The umbrella organization of Serbian youth, KOMS, released an alternative report on the situation of young people in Serbia for 2025, highlighting concerning trends regarding their lives, work, and attitudes. A survey of 1,000 respondents aged 15 to 30 revealed that nearly 70% of young people do not consider applying for subsidized housing loans, and only 0.3% have actually applied.
The report indicates that young people believe personal and family connections, as well as membership in a political party, are the most important factors for securing a job. In contrast, formal education and prior work experience are seen as less significant. About 12% of young people work “unofficially,” and nearly half are employed in positions for which they are not trained, highlighting a mismatch between the labor market and the education system.
Financial expectations among youth are also high. Most respondents (61.9%) consider a salary above 130,000 dinars necessary for a decent standard of living, while only 0.6% believe that 80,000 dinars or less would suffice. Over 60% of young people have abandoned further education, mainly due to financial constraints or the need to work to support themselves and their families.
The report also shows significant emigration intentions: almost half of the surveyed youth plan to leave Serbia, and 43% are considering it, citing better living standards and a more dignified life as primary motivations. Conversely, 58.5% of those who choose to stay do so out of a desire to contribute to positive changes in Serbia and help make it a better place to live and work.
