Ongoing debatesOne of the most significant challenges facing the Montenegrin labour market is the limited participation of vulnerable groups, particularly women, youth, beneficiaries of social and child protection allowances, persons with disabilities, and other socially excluded categories. Furthermore, the current level of development of community-based support services remains insufficient to enable independent and productive living for these groups. A key barrier also lies in the low activation rate among recipients of social assistance, which hampers their transition out of the welfare system and into sustainable employment.In response to these complex challenges, the forthcoming period will be marked by the establishment of a dedicated unit for monitoring career guidance and counseling, as envisaged by the Strategy for Career Guidance and Counseling. In parallel, Montenegro will intensify efforts to implement measures outlined in both the Reform Agenda and the Growth Plan. A central focus of these efforts is addressing the mismatch between the skills delivered through the education system and those demanded by the labour market.Through the promotion of lifelong learning and work-based training, particularly via vocational education and targeted skills development, Montenegro aims to directly improve the employability of its graduates. These initiatives will equip young people with practical competencies tailored to green and digital economy sectors, thereby laying the foundation for a more dynamic and resilient economy.Additionally, the forthcoming Youth Strategy outlines a set of measures aimed at building the capacities of young people to remain competitive in an evolving labour market. These include initiatives that encourage youth to adapt their professional profiles to meet current industry demands and support entrepreneurial and business ventures. These measures are aligned with the Government’s broader objective to reduce long-term and youth unemployment through inclusive and future-oriented employment policies.