An audit conducted by the State Audit Institution (ESHA) concerning the operations of the Employment Agency of the Republic of North Macedonia revealed significant concerns regarding the allocation of funds for active employment initiatives during 2024. The audit noted that a total of 1,442,207 million denars, equivalent to 23.4 million euros, were disbursed for these employment measures. However, the report concluded that the distribution of these resources failed to ensure balanced regional development across the country.
The analysis highlighted a severe concentration of support funding. Specifically, more than half of the funds allocated for individual employment measures were channeled into a limited number of employment centers. Furthermore, support for legal entities, including payroll subsidies and employment growth measures, was predominantly implemented within only five designated cities: Skopje, Tetovo, Struga, Kumanovo, and Probishtina.
Consequently, other geographic regions received a noticeably diminished share of the available resources. Beyond the geographical imbalance, the auditors identified operational irregularities and discrepancies within the Agency’s general functions. These findings suggest systemic issues in how the allocated funds for employment support were managed and distributed.
The audit underscores a need for review concerning the mechanisms used to ensure that national employment measures benefit a geographically equitable base, rather than being concentrated in select urban areas.
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