1.6 Evidence-based youth policy
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Political Commitment to Evidence-Based Youth Policy
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Cooperation between policy- making and research
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National Statistics and available data sources
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Budgetary Allocations supporting research in the youth field
Political Commitment to Evidence-Based Youth Policy
Occasionally, there are efforts from governmental institutions to support youth policies with knowledge and evidence from research on youth.
The previous National Youth Strategy basis for initiating this process of creating the National Youth Strategy 2016-2025 was the Youth Trends Survey conducted by the Institute of Sociological, Political and Juridical Research from September to December 2014.
For the preparation of the new National Youth Strategy, outlined in the Law on Youth Participation and Youth Policies, in October 2021, the Agency of Youth and Sports announced a call for public procurement conducting research on youth trends which should provide the necessary information and basis for the preparation of the new National Youth Strategy.
The process of creation of the National Youth Strategy 2023-2027 started in October 2022, which gathered representatives from various relevant institutions and civil organizations that formulated visions for the position of the young people in the following period of five years. The new strategy is officially adopted.
In order to reduce the differences between the supplied workforce and the required skills, the Employment Service Agency of the Republic of North Macedonia conducts a survey for analysis of skills needed in the labor market.
According to the Operational Plan for active programs and measures for employment and services on the labor market, the Employment Agency of North Macedonia (AVRSM) conducts a Survey on yearly basis, for the need for skills in the labor market
The purpose of survey research is to provide certain short-term indicators of employers' expectations regarding new hires and the skills that people should have, how they could be competitive in the labor market.
The results obtained from the survey research represent a basis for creation of active employment programs and measures, which aim to raise skills of unemployed persons in order to increase their competitiveness on the market labor and to contribute to the creation of conditions for its better functioning, by crossing the supply and demand of suitably qualified workers strength. The results of the research are also used in the educational system conceptualizing enrollment policies and creating new educational programs for occupations aligned with the needs of the labor market. The methodology for the survey research on the need for skills in the market of the work was developed within the framework of a European project and this research Agency for recruitment is carried out once a year as part of its regular activities.
Youth Employment as a high priority of the Government is a theme that requires specific scientific research aimed at developing tailored and relevant programs and measures. The National Employment Strategy for 2021 - 2027 is accompanied by the Youth Guarantee, whose implementation plan was reformulated in 2022 to take into account the progress made, the impact of the pandemic on youth employment and the adjustments introduced to the Youth Support Program of the EU, which is expected to significantly increase the employment of young people.
Cooperation between policy- making and research
No institutionalized mechanisms of cooperation with the research community exist in North Macedonia, and there is no specific Youth Research Center or Youth Institute funded by the State.
According to the Law on Youth Participation and Youth Policies, a dedicated Research Center on Youth Topics was to be established within the Agency for Youth and Sport to facilitate evidence-based policymaking for youth. This center was intended to generate data and insights that would inform and shape youth policies based on credible research and the actual needs of young people. Unfortunately, despite the law’s mandate to establish this center by January 2021, it has yet to be realized, leaving a significant gap in the capacity to develop youth policies grounded in reliable research.
Cooperation between policy-making and research institutions/academic communities is on an ad-hoc basis. For example, aside from the survey of the Youth Trends in North Macedonia which was ordered by the former Agency of Youth and Sport dated back to 2014, and the latest announced call in 2021 for conducting new research on youth trends for the needs of creating a new National Youth Strategy, the base for preparation of the National Youth Strategy 2023-2027 was the research methodology 2022, conducted by the AYS.
National Statistics and available data sources
The State Statistical Office (SSO) is responsible for overall statistics for the country, including young people. According to the last census conducted in 2021, the population of North Macedonia is 1.836.713 inhabitants.
The following youth indicators are collected at national level:
- unemployment rate;
- working age population by economic activity;
- labor force by educational attainment and
- activity rates of the population aged 15 years and over, NEET.
No regular youth reports at national level, other data and analysis are produced.
According to the data of the State Statistical Office, in the II quarter of 2024, the activity rate of youth (15-29) in this period was 44.5%, the employment rate was 35.1%, while the unemployment rate was 22.8%.
In the official data of the State Statistical Office, information related to education is also available, including the following: The number of students in secondary regular schools for the academic year 2023/2024 is 67 278. The number of students enrolled in undergraduate studies at faculties and higher professional schools (first cycle of studies) for the academic year 2023/2024 is 52 316. The number of undergraduate students who graduated from higher professional schools and faculties in the first cycle of studies in 2022 was 7 422. Additionally, the number of individuals who obtained the title of Master of Science and Specialist in 2023 is 1 828, of which 856 are young people up to 29 years. Finally, the number of individuals who obtained the title of Doctor of Science in 2023 is 174, including 11 young persons.
Budgetary Allocations supporting research in the youth field
No budgetary allocations or particular budget lines are available for supporting research in the youth field.