At the conclusion of last year, the Plužine Labor Bureau recorded 163 individuals without employment, with nearly 54 percent being women (88). As of December 31, 2022, there were 2023 unemployed individuals, where approximately 47.5 percent were women (219).

This information is detailed in a report authored by M.Sc Aleksandra Radulović, Head of the Regional Unit of the Employment Agency Nikšić, which oversees the employment offices in Plužine and Šavnik. The report will be reviewed by the councilors of the Plužine Municipal Assembly today.

According to the 2023 census, Plužine has a population of 2,177, which is 1,109 fewer than in 2011. By the end of last year, nearly 7.5 percent of the residents of Piva were registered with the Labor Bureau, with slightly over 8.5 percent of the 1,026 women registered.

The majority of unemployed residents in the Plužine municipality possess a third or fourth degree of education (110 individuals, including 57 women). Additionally, there is one woman who has completed an eighth grade and eight individuals with a seventh degree, of which six are women.

Nine out of a total of 13 women have been seeking employment for over eight years, while ten out of 17 people have been looking for work for five to eight years. Conversely, data from the Labor Bureau indicate that more men than women have been searching for jobs for one to three years; among 35 individuals, 20 are men.

The majority of unemployed individuals are over the age of 50 (47 people, 26 of whom are women), followed by those aged 40 to 49 (35 individuals, 15 of whom are women).

Almost two-thirds of the unemployed in Plužine, totaling 105 (51 of whom are women), have prior work experience. Among them, two individuals have over 30 years of experience, 11 (eight women) have between 20 to 30 years of experience, and 18 (nine women) have between 10 to 20 years.

Last year, there were 42 job postings, primarily in education, with 13 positions requiring a seventh degree, two for a fourth degree, and an identical number for a first degree. The state administration opened seven positions, of which five required a seventh degree and two required a fifth degree. It’s noteworthy that one advertisement was posted by a shop seeking an individual with an eighth degree.

“In 2024, 171 vacancies were mediated in Plužine for 114 individuals, out of which 22 were employed, primarily in temporary roles. Among them, one person held a first degree, six held third or fourth degrees, eight possessed a VII1 degree, and one had a VII2 degree,” as indicated by the report.

Regarding seasonal employment, during the summer of 2024, 17 individuals were hired—one each in agriculture and the processing industry, two in construction, four in trade, and nine in accommodation services.

“Through active employment policy measures from the Employment Service, two individuals were engaged in public work, three in training programs for independent work, and one in adult education and training programs in Podgorica,” the report states.

The Plužine Labor Bureau also has 15 registered persons with disabilities (PWDs), six of whom are women. Nine of these registered PWDs are over 45 years old. Last year, two PWDs were employed with employers benefiting from salary subsidies.

Despite the local government’s years-long efforts to mitigate displacement in the area through various measures and allocations from their budget, these initiatives face challenges due to a stagnant economy, job scarcity, and a declining natural growth rate.

Some of the closed companies that once provided employment for the residents of Plužine include the Agricultural Cooperative “Bajo PIvljanin,” the Electrode Factory Plužine, the Sawmill in Brezne, and the Catering Company “Piva,” which were vital for numerous families. Back in 2003, around 1,300 to 1,400 individuals were employed across the economy. Currently, only the Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) “Piva” remains operational with most employees comming from Nikšić. The residents of Plužine are now relying on tourism for economic revival, which requires substantial assistance from the state, particularly in the northern regions, to halt displacement. When Piva was economically vibrant, every school was operational, but now many have closed due to a continual decline in student enrollment.

The average age of the Plužine population stands at 47.32 years (men 47.18, women 47.48), making it the oldest in the country. For comparison, the average age in Montenegro is 39.73 years (men 38.52, women 40.90).

The municipality of Plužine is persevering with incentive measures while awaiting the state’s developmental strategy. This includes providing mothers with 200 euros monthly until the child reaches two years of age, offering 500 euros for the first-born child, 2,000 euros for the second, and further financial assistance for the third. Additionally, they offer scholarships, reward top students and academics, provide internships, and exempt rural populations from property taxes…

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