The Future We Choose: Why Career Guidance is Key for Albania's Youth
Career guidance gives Albania’s youth the tools to match education with opportunity—helping them shape brighter futures in school, work, and life
School is back and on Monday nearly 350,000 children and young people will go back to school. I am Enxhi Kala, a member of UNICEF Adolescents Advisory Board and on Monday I will return to school and continue my ICT studies at the vocational education school “Hermann Gmeiner”. Today I was reading some of the results of the most recent U-Report poll on how young people perceive the experience of going back to school, and one of the data that impressed me was that 40% of young people was to experience being involved more in practical training and career and labor market orientation.
This data brings into my mind the questions: “What happens when young people finish school full of ambition but unsure where to go next? How can students truly know which professions have a future and what skills they should invest in? And most importantly, how do we turn education into a pathway that leads not just to a job, but to a fulfilling career? These are questions that thousands of Albanian students, me included, face every day.
The answers lie not only in our personal effort but also in the support system that surrounds us, particularly in the form of career guidance. As a vocational education student specializing in software engineering, I have experienced both the uncertainty and the potential that comes with choosing a career path. I developed a passion for this field from a course I took a few years ago, and to be sure of my choice, I took a career guidance test. My choice was also strongly supported by teachers, exposure to projects, and opportunities such as hackathons and competitions. These experiences showed me that success comes not only from earning a diploma but also from connecting what you learn with what the job market really demands.
Early orientation can make the difference between a random decision and a conscious career choice. At the same time, a quiet transformation is happening in our schools: students are beginning to see career choices not as random decisions, but as steps that require direction and planning. In my own class, I notice how much more confident and focused my peers become when they receive clear advice on how their studies connect to real opportunities. When students are given exposure to practical projects, mentoring, or internships, they are not only building technical skills but also learning how to position themselves in the job market. This shift is powerful, it shows that with the right guidance, education can truly become a roadmap toward meaningful futures rather than just a collection of lessons.
Still, many young people remain uncertain about their future. These changes in perception are also reflected in the findings of recent studies. A 2023 study by the European Training Foundation and UNICEF, “Learning for Careers”, clearly shows this. The research, which combined surveys and interviews across several countries including Albania, assessed the career guidance preferences of young people aged 14–34 amidst technological change, evolving labor markets, migration, and social inequalities. Some of the key findings for Albania show that:
75.3% of young people prioritize having a profession that aligns with their skills and interests while gender differences persist when it comes to what matters most in a future career;
There is a growing interest among Albanian youth in understanding their skills, exploring entrepreneurship, and engaging directly with the private sector through practical experience.
The study emphasizes that to address these needs, Albania must foster a comprehensive system of career guidance accessible inside and outside education, revise educational content to strengthen career management skills, and build stronger bridges between schools and the labor market. It also highlights that while online sources dominate, they often lack structured and quality, checked approaches, calling for more attractive and reliable digital avenues for career information.
This is why career guidance matters. In my opinion, it helps us see beyond the classroom, link our learning to real opportunities, and build confidence in our choices. Never stop challenging yourself, because based on that, you will grow professionally. It is not just about choosing a profession; it is about preparing for life. Good guidance connects education with the labor market, matches abilities with opportunities, and equips us with the tools to adapt in a world that is changing faster than ever. Career guidance also plays a crucial role in developing soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills that employers consistently rank as essential, regardless of industry.
For Albania, investing in career guidance is not just about helping individuals, it is about building a stronger society. When young people are informed and motivated, they are more likely to contribute to the economy, drive innovation, and remain in their own country instead of searching for opportunities abroad. Schools that collaborate with industries, invite professionals to speak with students, and create mentorship programs are not only shaping better, prepared graduates, but also laying the foundation for a workforce ready to meet future challenges.
I believe that if schools invest more in career guidance, through dedicated counselors, mentorship, partnerships with industries, and opportunities to experience the world of work, students will not only make better choices for themselves but also strengthen Albania’s future. Because the future is not something that simply happens, it is something we prepare for, and something we choose to create. And with the right guidance, we can choose to make that future bright, meaningful, and rooted where we belong.
