Around 36% of women in North Macedonia leave their jobs or remain outside the labor market in order to care for their children. The main reason for this is the lack of institutional conditions for childcare for children under the age of six, who number more than 75,000 nationwide. According to experts, this causes long-term consequences not only for families on a personal level, but also for society as a whole.
In a study conducted online by the Center for Equality and Justice (CEJ), 646 people were surveyed and four focus groups with parents were held, confirming that the lack of a childcare system is the main reason why women withdraw from the labor market.
“A total of 36% of mothers, compared to 2% of fathers, responded that they care for children up to the age of two during working hours. The lack of kindergartens to care for children under the age of six directly affects women’s inactivity in the labor market and their economic empowerment.”
Institutional childcare for children under the age of six does not meet the needs of every child. More than 75,000 children are not included in the system before the age of six.
“Official data show that the country has limited coverage of childcare for children up to the age of six, with a total of 36,291 children in care, or 34.5% of children aged 0 to 6 and 45.5% of children aged 3 to 6. This means that 75,874 children in the country remain excluded from preschool education.”
Economics expert Abil Baush explains that this phenomenon, which pushes women out of the labor market and stems both from social norms and the inadequacy of public services, leads to what is known as the penaliteti gjinor i kujdesit (care penalty).
“This situation reinforces structural gender inequality, where women are economically ‘penalized’ for their reproductive and caregiving roles. In economic terms, this is known as the ‘care penalty,’ which manifests in lower wages, weaker participation in the labor market, and deep inequalities in long-term economic security.”
Although this phenomenon may seem to affect only parents and the immediate family, Abil Baush lists the loss of productivity and GDP, labor shortages, lower tax revenues, and pressure on the state budget as economic consequences faced by North Macedonia.
“When 36% of women leave the labor market for caregiving reasons, the consequences for the economy of North Macedonia are multiple and serious:
- Ekonomia humb një pjesë të konsiderueshme të kapitalit njerëzor. Gratë janë gjithnjë e më të arsimuara, por mosaktivizimi i tyre në tregun e punës ul: produktivitetin total, potencialin për rritje të BPV-së dhe kthimin nga investimet publike në arsim.
- North Macedonia is already facing labor shortages, and excluding women due to caregiving responsibilities worsens this deficit and makes the economy less competitive.
- Fewer employed women means less income tax, fewer social contributions, and greater dependence on social transfers.”
UNEMPLOYMENT AS A FORCED CHOICE FOR WOMEN
Women staying at home is not an economic choice, but a symptom of the failure of public policies on childcare and gender equality. Women should have the opportunity to become mothers without giving up the roles they previously held, especially their careers and employment.
One victim of a system that has failed to enable this is M.Ç. She told Mollëkuqja that the lack of conditions allowing her to be both a mother and employed pushed her out of the labor market.
“I decided to leave my job because there was no one to take care of my children while I was at work. The lack of a kindergarten has a huge impact because you are forced to stay at home and not work. There is no other alternative unless you have help from family members. I felt useless despite taking care of both children and fulfilling other obligations. This situation had a very negative effect on me and my mental health.” ”
When asked whether she would work if childcare support were available, she responds decisively in the affirmative.
“Yes, as long as I had the opportunity, I would definitely work.”
Mirvete Alili, a mother of four daughters, also chose to leave her job to care for her children because she did not trust institutional childcare.
“It has always been important for me to dedicate myself 100% to my family and my daughters, to be present both in their upbringing and education. I did not have full trust in the safety and care that could be offered to my children in North Macedonia, so my decision was firm to take their care upon myself.”
MATERNAL UNEMPLOYMENT INCREASES POVERTY RATES
Regardless of whether they live in urban or rural areas, women are the ones who care for children and do not work, but the difference lies in the duration of unemployment and its impact on economic conditions, says Dimovska.
“The difference is that unemployment among women in rural areas is more long-term, considering that in urban areas a higher percentage of children start attending kindergarten, while in rural areas this opportunity does not exist. This particularly affects the family’s financial situation, as well as the support the family can provide to help the child reach their full potential.”
An increase in the number of children is directly proportional to a deepening of poverty within the family. Dimovska links this to women’s unemployment.
“Statistically, as the number of children in a family increases, the poverty rate also rises. This situation is directly influenced by the unemployment of mothers who have to care for preschool children. This certainly affects women’s careers, their economic power, and their financial independence.”
However, leaving the labor market does not affect only financial independence. Abil Baush emphasizes that women in such situations face long-term losses.
“From an economic perspective, women leaving the labor market due to the lack of nurseries and the high costs of childcare creates structural and long-term losses, not only personal but also societal. They face:
- Cumulative income losses over their entire working life cycle;
- Career interruptions and loss of professional experience and skills;
- Lower pensions due to lost years of contributions;
- Greater economic dependence, especially in cases of divorce, partner unemployment, or economic abuse.”
Conservative narratives argue that when women stay at home and care for children, families actually save on expenses such as nursery or other childcare costs. Baush challenges these views, arguing that in the long term, the losses families incur from women’s non-employment are greater than the savings from institutional childcare.
“In the short term, some families may perceive themselves as being financially ‘better off’ by avoiding payments for nurseries or private kindergartens. But economic analysis shows that long-term losses clearly outweigh short-term savings. Real losses include the loss of a full or partial salary, loss of career progression, and a higher risk of poverty.”
By withdrawing from the labor market, women not only lose financial independence and further advancement, but also become more vulnerable to domestic violence.
