Season Employment Fair and Open Days UMNE to be Held on March 12th and 13th in Podgorica and Kotor
The Seasonal Employment Fair has attracted 5.500 young people over the past two years, with over 1.000 securing employment, according to the Student Parliament of the University of Montenegro (SPUMNE). It was announced that the 17th Seasonal Employment Fair will be held on March 12th and 13th in Podgorica and Kotor.
The press conference announcing the UMNE Open Day and the Seasonal Employment Fair "Summer Job 2025" was organized by the Student Parliament of the University of Montenegro.
Jakov Vukčević, President of the UMNE Student Parliament, emphasized that the main goal of the project is to provide young people with the opportunity to directly communicate with employers, explore job opportunities, and gain their first work experience.
“The 17th Seasonal Employment Fair will take place on March 12 at the University Sports and Cultural Centre in Podgorica and on March 13 at the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality in Kotor. Through direct conversations, young people can explore specific working conditions and employment opportunities during the tourist season,” Vukčević said.
According to him, over 5.500 young people visited the fair in the past two years, and more than 1.000 secured jobs.
“We will ensure the participation of all interested high school graduates across Montenegro. Free transportation will be provided for all interested participants. In addition to seasonal job opportunities, young people will have the chance to learn about educational opportunities at the state university through the UMNE Open Day project, which will be held on the same date and at the same venue as the Fair. All study programs, exchange opportunities, student organizations, offices, centres, and institutes will be presented,” Vukčević added.
The Minister of Sports and Youth, Dragoslav Šćekić, highlighted the Ministry’s goal to achieve the highest level of youth mobility, offering them more opportunities to participate in society and be part of decisions concerning both state functioning and their own lives.
“The fair is a traditional event that achieves better results year after year. We fully support the Student Parliament, and I am confident that this year will see a great turnout from both employers and young people. This is about them and creating new chances and opportunities. The Ministry of Sports and Youth has supported the fair with €10.000. With all the other partners involved, I am certain we will achieve success,” Šćekić said.
Ivica Todorović, Head of the Career Development and Lifelong Learning Office, believes that cooperation with the tourism industry and institutions is needed to provide decent working conditions, accommodation, and food for the domestic workforce during the summer tourist season.
“Only through a careful approach can we retain young people in Montenegro. That’s why part of this year’s Seasonal Employment Fair campaign is directed at the tourism industry, emphasizing the importance of providing proper accommodation and food for workers during the season,” Todorović explained.
The second part of the campaign, he added, will focus on young people to raise awareness and shift value systems, helping them understand the importance of working in Montenegro, earning income, and gaining experience with employers and colleagues.
David Perčobić, Director of the Employment Agency of Montenegro, stressed that seasonal employment should not be considered only right before the start of the tourist season but much earlier.
“With this partnership, we want to show other universities that the Employment Agency is a capable and ready state institution to engage in such arrangements to address unemployment,” Perčobić said.
He pointed out that the unemployment rate is highest in the northern region of the country at 35%, around 5-6% in the central region, and about 3% in the south.
“It is very important that initiatives like this encourage people from the north to seek seasonal employment, gradually stabilizing Montenegro’s labour market. In addition to promoting seasonal jobs, it is crucial to inform young people about the demands and shortages in the labour market. The Employment Agency will always be there to support all youth initiatives aimed at finding suitable employment,” Perčobić concluded.