Helping Youth in North Macedonia Enter the Job Market
Armend Alimi now works as a digital marketing designer at LeanSEM thanks to Brainster’s platform.
Young people in North Macedonia are struggling to secure positions in high-growth sectors. Because of this, IESC is implementing the USAID Youth Actively Create Opportunities Activity to equip youth with skills so they can access in-demand jobs. A key component of these efforts is a grant program that provides funding to local organizations to increase economic opportunities, skills, and civic engagement for youth.
Thanks to one of these grants, Brainster has successfully created pathways for young people to succeed in the job market. Through a job fair and innovative job-matching platform, Brainster is connecting students with employers and bridging the gap between education and employment. In June 2024, Brainster hosted its largest job fair to date, bringing together more than 50 partner companies from North Macedonia, Albania, Serbia, and Greece. The goal was simple: to help students break into the corporate world by offering them a fast track to internships and full-time positions.
More than 200 students showcased their skills, presented their portfolios, and interviewed with top employers at the fair. As a result, more than 60 students have secured employment or internships—a milestone achievement for students taking their first steps in their professional careers. The success of the job fair highlights the power of collaboration between education providers and the private sector, as well as the critical role IESC plays in ensuring that young people in the region have the tools they need to thrive.
With the grant provided by the program, Brainster has conducted outreach for its job-matching platform, making it easier for employers and recent graduates to connect. Brainster’s talent market coordinator foresees two-way communications with hiring partners and targeted employment activities. Armend Alimi, a former student from the Academy of Graphic Design, found employment through the platform. He now works as a digital marketing designer at LeanSEM, one of Brainster’s partner companies.
USAID Youth Actively Create Opportunities is a USAID-funded program implemented by IESC. It aims to increase positive youth contributions to society and collective youth leadership across North Macedonia to combat youth unemployment and limited youth civic engagement and spur economic growth across the country.
This story is made possible by the support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of this story are the sole responsibility of IESC and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government. This story is part of the Youth Actively Create Opportunities Activity, funded by the American people through USAID.
