Following activities in Ohrid and Bitola, the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science and with the support of the project “Education for Employment – E4E@mk,” continued its efforts to promote the hospitality and tourism sector in Skopje. For this purpose, a one-day event was organized at the City of Skopje Secondary School “Lazar Tanev”, introducing primary school students from the municipalities of Centar and Aerodrom to career opportunities in tourism and hospitality.

The school’s core social role and mission is to educate students by providing high-quality and applicable knowledge, competencies, and skills, as well as habits and abilities for mastering modern technologies. It develops skilled workforce capable of applying scientific achievements in practice, while fostering responsible and creative attitudes toward work, society, and personal development.

Approximately 500 regular students aged 14 to 18, along with a significant number of part-time students of various ages, attend classes annually at SUGS “Lazar Tanev.”

“With its overall activities, the school prepares students for the dynamic and evolving labor market in this sector, while the recognition as the school with highest potential in the Balkans serves as an additional incentive to continue its mission of training skilled and qualified labor,” stated Nebojsha Vukovikj, Director of SUGS “Lazar Tanev” Skopje. Within the school, education is provided in the hospitality and tourism field (three- and four-year programs), as well as in the chemical-technological field (three-year programs). More than 50 students from five primary schools attended the event, where they were addressed by Ana Tanevska-Gjorgjievska, President of the Hospitality and Tourism Association at the Chamber, and Vlatko Gjorgjievski, a practical training instructor for the Cook program. Through their personal professional experiences across various roles in the hospitality sector, they presented the career opportunities offered by this industry.

Such visits are of particular importance as they enable a direct link between theoretical knowledge and practical application. As in other tourist regions, employers in the country are facing a shortage of qualified workforce. The message conveyed by the school’s director and representatives of the Chamber’s Hospitality and Tourism Association was clear—this sector has a future and offers real opportunities for employment and professional development.

Young people, with their knowledge, energy, and creativity, represent a key driver for the further development of tourism and hospitality. Through initiatives like these, their interest in these professions is encouraged, awareness of their importance is strengthened, and a foundation is built for a skilled and competitive labor that will contribute to the overall development of the economy.