Mapping Barriers and Identifying In-Demand Digital Skills in Kosovo

Overview & Synopsis

Kosovo’s digital sector represents one of the most credible pathways to more and better jobs in the country. Given its growing contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) about 6 percent in 2025 and increasing demand for talent, the sector offers significant opportunities for quality employment, particularly for women, whose participation in the workforce remains below its potential. But without adequate upskilling, Kosovo’s workforce risks losing its competitive position in digital services at a time when demand for specialized digital talent is accelerating in export markets. This report identifies and analyzes the constraints that hinder access to employment in the digital sector, with a particular focus on women. The report uses a mixed-methods approach that combines primary quantitative and qualitative data with a review of existing literature and recent analyses on digital skills and employment pathways in Kosovo. The analysis primarily draws on student and graduate surveys, focus groups, and stakeholder interviews to capture perspectives from digital companies, education and training providers, and young people.