The partnership between the National Employment Service and the business community has turned out to be a very effective collaboration in recruiting skilled workers and job seekers willing to take up a job. One of the businesses cooperating with the National Employment Service is Europa metal construction, a leading Elbasan-based company in Albania’s mechanical industry involved in the design and manufacture of metal structures, assembly and installation of metal structures, production lines and equipment, infrastructural facilities and industrial buildings. Thanks to this cooperation, the company has hired a number of young skilled workers who will be replacing an old generation of very experienced professionals. Prime Minister Edi Rama, who visited the Europa Construction’s plant in the central city of Elbasan, was acquainted with the company’s even greater needs for young skilled workers as the company plans to expand its activity.

“We work mainly working for foreign companies and around 80 to 90 percent of our products are export-bound. Five or six Italian and German companies that ask us to implement their projects. Our products have been transported to the United States, Nicaragua, Germany, France, Spain and many other countries. We currently hire around 120 workers. We plan to expand our activities and increase workforce in order to meet the market demands,” the entrepreneur said.

Meanwhile, the company representatives put emphasis on the lack of young professionals in the industrial profile.

“The professionals working in our factory are really old. We are seeking to replace them with young skilled workers,” one of the company’s managers said, adding that the oldest worker at this plant is 76 years old. She pointed out the need for more students to enrol and attend the vocational education schools in the country.

The entrepreneur noted that the company has already created special premises for the young people who would like to attend vocational training courses in order to develop skills for work processes in this factory. The free of charge training program is offered in collaboration with the vocational training centers and offers young people to develop skills and launch a work career.