For a long time, Macedonia's educational system and the business sector functioned like two parallel worlds. One produced graduates, the other searched for skilled workers — but rarely did these two needs meet. The result? Young people graduating without practical skills. Companies struggling to find qualified labor. And an economy that’s treading water.
In 2017, the Economic Chamber took the initiative to introduce dual education. We began as a pilot project with just two qualifications — in the fields of electrical engineering and mechanical engineering. Today, the picture is entirely different: this model is applied to 78 qualifications across 14 sectors, with the active participation of 560 companies and 69 vocational secondary schools. We now have an impressive 259 dual classes in these schools.
Why is this important for companies? Because the time for waiting is over. Today, you can’t afford to wait for the ideal candidate to show up. You have to create that candidate. And that means investing in young people who will be trained specifically for your processes, technologies, and needs. Dual education enables exactly that. And it’s not “an investment in someone else’s child,” but an investment in your own future. Every company knows: the future is not built with machines alone — it’s built with people.
If we want young people to stay and see a future here, we must give them an education that leads to employment. We must prepare them for the market that exists now, not for the one from 20 years ago.
Dual education is not the end goal, but rather the beginning of a new understanding: that education must speak the language of the economy. And the Chamber is here — to be the translator, mediator, and driver of that process.
Otherwise, we will continue witnessing the brain drain to the West. Macedonia has no future unless it stops this process. That’s why, starting today, the Chamber is launching a new campaign to persuade the Government to create a joint platform to reverse this trend, just like with dual education.
According to the World Bank’s 2023 report, Macedonia is ranked 23rd out of 25 countries with the highest number of emigrants. In the past ten years, 40% of the highly educated workforce has left the country. According to the Global Economy index, Macedonia ranks 5th out of 41 European countries in terms of brain drain.
But the reason for emigration is not only economic:
(a) Poor employment opportunities;
(b) Youth unemployment at 24% among those under 29;
(c) Young people are leaving in search of better healthcare, social protection, and an improved quality of life.
To reverse this trend and bring back already emigrated talent, a national platform must be created, led by the Government and the Chamber, with the participation of universities and NGOs that can offer effective solutions.
“The pessimists left long ago. Only the optimists remain. Let’s make an effort to keep them here.”
P.S. Dual Education and Skills
Dual education and skills have been the central issue so far. This will continue — but now, preventing the brain drain will be added to that focus. And as for exports — let’s not even begin. They will be the alpha and omega of our survival. More on exports in the next column.
