Fewer industrial workers in January–August 2026 in North Macedonia
State Statistical Office: total industrial employment fell 2.8% year‑on‑year for January–August 2026; August alone down 3.0%.
The number of people employed in industry in North Macedonia fell by 2.8 % in the period January–August 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier, according to the State Statistical Office.
Looking at August alone, employment in industry decreased by 3.0 % compared with August 2025.
Sector and group breakdown
By sector, the largest drop was in Mining and quarrying, where the number of workers fell by 8.0 %. Employment in Manufacturing declined by 2.8 %, while the Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply sector recorded a rise of 0.7 %.
Examining the main industrial groups, employment decreased in Energy by 2.3 %, in Capital goods by 2.3 %, in Non-durable consumer goods by 4.4 %, in Intermediate goods, except energy by 3.0 %, and in Durable consumer goods by 2.1 %.
The figures show that the overall industrial workforce contracted in the first eight months of 2026, with mining and non-durable consumer goods among the most affected areas, while energy-supply activities marginally expanded.
Photo: press material from the event
