IMPETUS is organizing an online presentation of the national report Mapping and Analysis of Education and Training Capacities in North Macedonia’s Agri-Food Sector on March 21, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM CET.
This event is part of the SMARTLABOR project, which focuses on aligning education and training systems with labour market needs in the Western Balkans, with a special emphasis on digitalization and future skills in the agri-food sector.
The SMART Balkans initiative aims to strengthen the socio-economic resilience of the Western Balkans through targeted interventions in key sectors, including education and employment. One of the critical challenges facing the region is the misalignment between education systems and labour market demands. While agriculture remains a vital economic sector, its workforce is often unprepared for modern technological advancements and sustainability requirements.
The SMARTLABOR project addresses these issues by conducting research, engaging stakeholders, and providing evidence-based recommendations to improve workforce readiness. As part of this initiative, the national report on Bosnia and Herzegovina presents an in-depth analysis of the country’s education and training landscape in the agri-food sector, identifying gaps and opportunities for improvement.
Key Findings of the National Report
- Workforce Composition and Skills Gap
- Core teams are small, with reliance on external local and, to a lesser extent, international experts for specialized tasks.
- There is a shortage of staff with multidisciplinary backgrounds, particularly in sales and IT.
- ICT professionals prefer cooperation with foreign companies due to competitive salaries and working conditions.
- High-skilled workers in ICT are engaged in the agri-food sector mostly on a short-term project basis.
- The domestic agri-food sector has a low level of productivity and lower-than-average salaries.
- Only big companies and those with higher value-added products can afford digitalization.
- Skills shortages in the sector pose risks and obstacles for development.
- Rapid changes in skill needs make it difficult for the workforce to match employer demand.
For 2024, employers in the agriculture sector (with seven or more employees) reported a need for:
- 362 workers in total.
- 231 workers with only elementary education.
- Training and Development
- Companies use in-house training (3–6 months) and online courses for upskilling, particularly in software engineering and programming.
- VET schools provide ad-hoc training on modern agricultural technologies (e.g., drones, 3D mapping), but there are no continuous or updated curricula.
- Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Food has introduced a new Digital Agriculture program, combining agricultural and digital expertise.
Addressing the digital skills gap in the Macedonian agri-food sector requires a strategic, multi-stakeholder approach involving training, research collaboration, policy alignment, and financial support. Developing a skilled workforce and fostering innovation will enhance the sector’s competitiveness on both domestic and international markets.
The presentation is intended for policymakers, education and training providers, industry representatives, researchers, and development organizations working in the fields of agriculture, education, and labour market policy.
Participants will have the opportunity to engage in discussions on how to enhance workforce development and ensure the alignment of education systems with labour market needs.
The findings of this national report provide a roadmap for improving skills development in agri-food sector. By strengthening collaboration between education providers, industry stakeholders, and policymakers, we can build a more resilient and future-ready workforce. The upcoming online presentation will serve as a platform for discussing concrete steps toward achieving these goals.
Contact IMPETUS for more information: contact@impetus.mk
