Human resources

 

A highly qualified and relatively cheap labour force is one of the most important competitive advantages of Belgrade. A large number of local companies have traditionally done business with the most well-known international companies through different forms of contractual relationships which have enabled local staff to acquire specific technical know-how and the highest business standards.

The school system in Belgrade and other cities is especially known for its excellent technical education, and thanks to well-developed links with Western countries, knowledge of English and other foreign languages is of a high standard.

Finally, labour costs in Belgrade are similar to those in other large cities in the area, but are significantly lower than in Central European capitals.

AVAILABILITY OF TRAINED STAFF

The labour market in Belgrade and Serbia in general has developed at an increased pace with the arrival of international investors. Domestic and foreign companies have a large range of incentives available for the employment of new staff, and the large number of recruitment agencies offer a wide range of services from staff selection and training, to salary levels research.

The high quality of human resources in Belgrade is demonstrated by the statistic that of over 330,000 people employed in the capital, almost 1/3 have college or university qualifications. In addition, about 200,000 citizens of Belgrade have university degrees, which represents more than 20% of the working population. Belgrade, as the commercial and administrative centre of the country is also an area to which a large number of highly qualified staff from all parts of Serbia gravitate.

EDUCATION SYSTEM

Since 2001 there have been on average 14,370 graduates per year in the whole of Serbia, as well as 1,066 with master’s degrees and 383 with doctorates. Approximately 1/3 of that number are graduates of technical sciences. 10,226 students graduated from state and private faculties in Belgrade in 2005, and the higher education institutions both in the capital and in the country as a whole have signed up to the Bologna Convention.

The education of managers has developed at great speed via degree and post-graduate programs which are jointly offered by domestic universities and the most well-known European and International business schools, such as the HEC of France and the British schools at Sheffield and Heriot-Watt.

Besides this there are at present more that ten international elementary and secondary schools, where teaching takes place in English, German and French.