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Report: Presentation of the National Paper on Education and Training in the Agri-Food Sector in North Macedonia

As part of the SMARTLABOR initiative, the national paper Mapping and Analysis of Education and Training Capacities in the Macedonian Agri-Food Sector was presented on March 21, 2025. The event was announced on the IMPETUS website, Facebook page, and through direct invitations to a broad network, including SMART BALKAN NETWORK partners with signed Memoranda of Understanding.

The meeting gathered a total of 18 participants and featured a comprehensive presentation in three parts:

  • An overview of the agri-food sector and the educational landscape in North Macedonia;
  • Research methods for aligning occupational needs with available training;
  • Key conclusions and recommendations drawn from stakeholder interviews.

The session also highlighted key employment trends: while the sector contributes 6.6% to GDP and employs 7.8% of the workforce, a decline in employment numbers has been noted—from 127,000 in 2014 to 54,000 in 2023. Though wages have increased (from €353 in 2020 to €470 in 2023), they remain below the national average, affecting the sector’s appeal to the younger workforce.

Limited policy literature exists on digital skills in agriculture, though the Strategy for Agricultural and Rural Development 2021–2027 and the Smart Specialization Strategy 2024–2027 recognize digitalization as vital for the sector’s growth. The ESCO framework was presented as a valuable tool for improving labor market alignment, offering over 1,200 digital skill classifications relevant to the agri-food sector.

Findings from two focus group discussions held in July 2024 in Skopje were also shared. The first focused on national stakeholders addressing digital skills gaps, while the second brought together regional participants from Serbia, BiH, and North Macedonia to discuss cooperation and EU alignment.

The presentation concluded with actionable recommendations, including:

  • Integrating digital skills in formal and non-formal education,
  • Strengthening industry-education collaboration,
  • Expanding vocational training in rural areas,
  • Establishing a skills observatory for the sector.

Participants actively contributed during the Q&A session, expressing interest in follow-up workshops on topics like GIS tools, digital applications in agriculture, and navigating government subsidy programs.

The event was recorded by the Center for Public Policy Research. Presentation materials will be shared with participants to support continued learning and collaboration.

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Read more about our work and access the knowledge repository at: https://smartlabor.repeople.rs/resources/

Find out about our work and access the open database for smart agriculture in the Western Balkans: https://smartlabor.repeople.rs/resources/

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