Women in North Macedonia’s public sector: 57.5% employed, only 15% in government
The State Audit Office says there are no effective policies to move women into decision-making positions; representation falls at the top.
Women make up 57.5% of public-sector employees in North Macedonia, but their presence thins sharply once leadership and political posts are considered. The State Audit Office found that the country has not put in place effective policies to help women reach positions of decision-making.
What the numbers say
The audit highlights that women account for 39.2% of members in the Assembly, while in the Government their share drops to only 15%. Of 58 people appointed to leadership roles by the Assembly, just 16 are women. Since independence, no woman has occupied the speaker’s chair of the Assembly.
Experts and civil-society actors say these figures point to structural barriers: recruitment and promotion practices, informal networks, and a lack of targeted development policies that would open the pathway to senior roles for women.
The Audit Office’s conclusion — that effective measures are missing — reinforces calls for concrete steps such as mentorship programmes, transparency in appointments and gender-sensitive promotion criteria that could narrow the gap between overall employment and top-level representation.
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Photo: press material from the event
