The ongoing labor shortage in Albania, driven by demographic shifts and an aging population, continues to increase the demand for service staff with salaries reaching up to €1,000 per month, particularly in coastal areas.
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| A job posting on a pole in Saranda where a cleaner is required for a salary of up to €1000, source: MonitorMonitor |
Rising Salaries to Attract Workers
Businesses in the southern regions are not only seeking chefs with salaries ranging from €3,000 to €5,000 per month, but they are also looking for waiters earning €1,000 and assistant waiters earning €800 per month. Additionally, there is a growing demand for cleaning staff, with monthly wages ranging from €800 to €1,000.
An advertisement posted in the "5 May" area of Tirana highlights a business in Saranda offering employment for cleaning staff with salaries between €800 and €1,000 per month, including free accommodation and meals.
"Cleaning staff needed for the summer season in Saranda. Free accommodation and meals provided. Salary €800 to €1,000," reads the advertisement.
Increased Rates in Tirana
Cleaning staff wages have also increased in Tirana, with hourly rates ranging from 500 lek to 1,000 lek.
High Demand in HoReCa Sector
Employment sector experts predict that this year, high-paying job offers will primarily come from the HoReCa (Hotels-Restaurants-Catering) businesses along the coast. These businesses struggle to fill positions with local labor, leading to the temporary relocation of workers from Tirana and other areas.
"This trend has intensified, especially over the past two years. To ease this process and increase the pool of qualified workers, operators offer free accommodation, meals, and other benefits to their employees relocated from Tirana or other distant areas," said Indrit Puteci, director of the recruitment agency "Profesionisti" of Çelësi Group, in a previous statement to Monitor.
Challenges for Businesses
Henri Jahja, president of the Bars and Restaurants Association, previously noted that businesses offering low wages find it difficult to retain employees. He believes the labor crisis calls for a change in how the sector treats its workers, including work hours, provision of meals, and a reassessment of salaries.
"Overtime work must be paid. Businesses need to review employee salaries, as increasing wages can eliminate the need for two employees to perform one job. Providing meals for staff is no longer a matter of discussion worldwide; here, some offer it while others consider it a luxury," he said.
Impact on Restaurant Prices
Jahja also mentioned that the increased cost of maintaining a workforce with higher salaries has driven up restaurant prices in Vlora and Saranda by 26 to 33%.
"Last year, the minimum price per person at restaurants in these cities ranged from 2,000 to 2,200 lek; this season, it has reached up to 3,000 lek per person."
Overall, according to data from the Bars and Restaurants Association, salaries for both managerial and internal staff in the sector are almost double what they were last year.