Serbia suffers from severe workforce shortages. In the Balkan country, the scarcity of skilled labour has been palpable for years, but now hardly any sectors are capable of recruiting enough workers, economists and employers say.

Problem needs permanent solution, not surface treatment of symptoms

The wave of emigration experienced in the Balkans over the past few years has also affected Serbia. It’s lead to labour shortage in many fields, as many skilled workers have moved abroad. Those who have stayed can practically cherry-pick between jobs, and only do work that suits them. A local plumber recently confirmed this to V4NA, saying that the more workers leave the country, the better off he is, as he can charge more for his customers.

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There appears to be no quick and permanent solution to the problem, economists say, pointing out that the country’s strategy of importing workforce from abroad is merely a treatment of symptoms. People are coming not only from neighbouring states now, but also from more distant countries to take up work in Serbia. For instance, it is not uncommon to meet Cuban food couriers on the streets of Belgrade, or to hear about Sri Lankan staff running restaurant kitchens.

„Our salary here is much higher than at home. It’s Europe after all. Everything is different here. We have to work hard, this is the price of the higher pay, but if you compare life here and at home, it is not that difficult. I am satisfied here,”

a food courier from Cuba explained, as quoted by the B92’s website.

Every sector experiences labour shortages

The coronavirus and the emergency situation in Serbia have greatly increased the number of home deliveries resulting in a growing need for deliverers and couriers. In the last two years, employees for delivery work were the most sought after. There is also a shortage of drivers with category ‘C’ and ‘D’ driving licenses. The country currently offers around 12 thousand job opportunities in this sector alone. There aren’t enough hairdressers, caterers, car mechanics or joiners either. The situation is the worst in the construction industry, where more than 30 thousand workers are needed.

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„The shortage of skilled workers is the most severe. Jobs that do not require a university or college degree and a completed secondary school education is sufficient are the most difficult to fill. This deficiency affects employers as well as the labor market. The old saying that „if you don’t wanna work, someone else will” is much less relevant these days,

Milos Turinski, from the Infostud employment agency, has said.

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Labour shortage is the most palpable during the summer. Most caterers move to the Adriatic coast for the warmest months, and although some return to Serbia at the end of the season, it is more typical that they go further west, the expert explained.

Authorities issued 28,000 work permits to foreigners

As the employers must somehow find replacement for their vacancieds, they need to bring in employees from abroad. The National Employment Service has issued four times as many work permits to foreign citizens this year than 5 years ago. In 2022, this number will be around 28,000. Most foreign workers came to Serbia from China, Turkey, Russia, India and Ukraine. In some cases, they also receive room and board on top of their salary.

This, of course begs the question of why aren’t they paying more for locals instead of bringing in foreigners who must be given extra benefits on top of their salary, even though they are not familiar with the local circumstances.

„There are simply no workers. Therefore, the only solution at this moment is to bring in workers from abroad, otherwise production would stop,”

Union of Serbian Employers representative Jelena Jevtovic explains. Serbia’s other major problem is its ageing population and the fact that working-age adults can now take up work abroad more easily. Serbs mostly go to work in Germany. Although employers say that there are not enough workers, experts say that part of the problem is not the lack of workers, but rather a lack of willingness to work for a monthly salary of 350 or 400 euros. University professor Jelena Zarkovic believes that It’s no longer an option to pay workers such low salaries in Serbia.

„The minimum wage does not cover even the smallest consumer basket. So, naturally, people don’t want to work for that much. They want more than that,”

the professor said, adding that

the labour market is experiencing a wave of increasingly overqualified people who refuse to work below their qualification, because that would naturally entail a lower pay.