The IT sector has recorded a spectacular upsurge by 210% in hiring activity in the last five years in Albania owing to the rapid digitisation of various sectors, the Minister of Finance and Economy Delina Ibrahimaj said Monday as she attended announcement of the first call for young people wishing to attend the Coding Program, which is launched by the Albanian government as a new door to the future for young people.

The Finance and Economy Minister pledged that the government will continue to support cost for the young for young IT specialists, given that the sector is experiencing rapid growth.

“Government has allocated due funding to support around 1000 coders this year, providing support to the young people who wish to invest and lead a new career path,” Finance Minister said.

Ibrahimaj said that the IT sector contribution to Albania’s Gross Domestic Product is estimated at around 1%, with more than 13,000 IT specialists and employees in around 3,200 operational companies.

The government has decided to provide subsidies and cover 50% of the cost for every young people, and up to 100% for certain social vulnerable categories.

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In his remarks as lawmakers discussed the bill on creation and operation of Technological and Scientific Parks, Ahmetaj said that “the government is supporting one of the sectors with the greatest added value in the economy, that of information technology and innovative technologies as a whole”.

Referring to official data, Ahmetaj noted that a total of 439,000 people were employed in 2013, whereas their number has surged to over 720,000 in 2022.

“IT sector accounted for 35% of the new jobs in Albania last year. Albania is now home to a number of highly experienced IT companies,” he said.

In this regard, Ahmetaj said that the IT and tech parks are part of both procedural and fiscal incentives provided by the government to support a sector and industry that will play an important role in the country’s economy in the future.

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