Job creation is crucial to unlocking Serbia's economic growth potential—but only if it includes more women. Increasing women's participation in the workforce would not only boost household incomes but also drive national productivity and spark innovation. By tapping into the underutilized potential of women, especially marginalized groups like the Roma, Serbia can foster a more inclusive, dynamic economy.
Currently, women's labor force participation in Serbia lags behind men’s. In 2021, only 63.4% of women were part of the labor force compared to 76.6% of men. This gap is even more pronounced among Roma women and those not in education, employment, or training (NEETs), and persists even amongst those with higher education. This gap highlights the impact that systemic barriers like outdated social norms and views on women’s roles outside the home have on Serbia’s economy. These challenges leave many women vulnerable to economic shocks and need to be addressed if the country is to tackle income inequality and poverty reduction.
To bridge this gender gap, Serbia must create pathways for women to access jobs. This includes improving access to relevant skills through targeted education and training programs and addressing social norms that restrict women's participation in the workforce. By supporting women in overcoming these gender-oriented barriers, Serbia can harness the full potential of its diverse workforce to drive economic growth.
Designing Services that Meet (Roma) Women’s Needs
To bring women—especially those facing compounded vulnerabilities like the Roma—into the workforce, they are best supported when employment services reflect their needs and aspirations. With the support of the National Employment Service (NES) and funding from the EU, the World Bank conducted a discrete choice experiment (DCE) survey across six local employment offices with a high proportion of Roma women beneficiaries. This effort provided fresh insights into the preferences of women who are often disengaged from formal labor market programs, including Roma and long-term NEET women.
Encouragingly, about half of respondents surveyed expressed willingness to participate in training opportunities, income-generating activities, or to accept a job offer. The DCE revealed that both Roma and non-Roma women prioritized practical features: they (i) favored job and training opportunities located closer to home and (ii) preferred programs that emphasized developing workplace-relevant skills and offered hands-on experience, rather than those centered on basic skill-building. These findings can serve the government in their future endeavors to ensure that services speak to women’s realities and contribute toward opening pathways to economic empowerment.
Building on these insights and with EU funding, the World Bank in cooperation with the Serbian Institute of Ethnography and the Entrepreneurship Training Institute launched a personal initiative (PI) training program for Roma women in Serbia. PI trainings have a proven track record in improving women’s livelihoods and are particularly effective in enhancing the performance of women-owned businesses by strengthening self-starting behavior, future-oriented thinking, and persistence. The approach was adapted to the Serbian context, with nine Roma women having become internationally certified PI trainers, who have gone on to provide mentorship and training to over 100 Roma women across the country. The results of these trainings are encouraging, equipping Roma women with the confidence and practical tools needed to navigate job markets, engage in income-generating activities, and transition into formal employment. Follow-up support such as linking the PI training with job placement programs and mentorship networks can further enhance Roma women’s access to stable employment in Serbia.