Montenegro’s strongest employment gains were recorded in construction, manufacturing, accommodation and food services, transport and warehousing, and mining and quarrying, reflecting increased demand for labour across several major economic sectors.
Construction employment increased 8.49% in the year to August, while manufacturing grew by 8.02%. Accommodation and food services recorded a rise of 6.33%, transport and warehousing 5.74%, and mining and quarrying 5.07%. Total employment was up 4.38% over the same period.
The sectoral distribution of new jobs places much of the employment growth in activities associated with construction, industrial production, transport and tourism, alongside investment and property-related activity.
However, employment gains were not shared across all sectors. Real-estate employment declined by 3.82%, making it the only sector in the Central Bank’s summary to register a decrease.
Wage developments also point to pressure on household purchasing power. Although nominal wages increased slightly in August, real net earnings fell by 0.9% as inflation accelerated.
The combination of rising employment and declining real wages presents a mixed picture for businesses. Additional recruitment can increase operating capacity, while inflation-related pressure on earnings may affect wage demands and employee retention. Sectors recording the strongest hiring growth may also face greater competition for available workers.
