Poverty, Inequality and Social Inclusion
17
Kosovo
Florentina Hajdari is training to become a machine operator, one of thousands who have found opportunities with private companies. © Alexia Skok
Kosovo: Finding a Job, Gaining a Foothold Kosovo is still struggling to improve its economy after the conflict in 1998-1999. Almost one out of every two persons is without employment. For people 25 or younger, the share rises to eight out of ten. Women and minorities are especially affected. Such rampant joblessness has been seen as a principal threat to social stability. Since 1999, UNDP has been working with Kosovo to help increase employment by strengthening the offices that help people find jobs. Results include: better information about the job market; enhanced vocational training; more effective job counselling; and improved employment prospects for youth and people with disabilities. Avni Gallopeni, 25, had everything going for him—except a job and an income. A smart, ambitious graphic designer with a university degree, he searched for employment for three years, only to see doors slam in his face. “After several failures one after another, I made my way to an employment office,” recalled Gallopeni, who was born in the village of Doberdolan, in rural Kosovo. With assistance from the office, Gallopeni got an internship at SOLID, a shoe manufacturer in nearby Suhareka. There he put his graphical skills to work designing footwear. After finishing the internship in 2011, the company gave him a job.