Young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) face fear and uncertainty after completing their university education, given the problems they have when looking for a job.
Their concerns include not having enough experience, low pay, and poor working conditions, not to mention rampant nepotism and political party favoritism in hiring. Many have the desire to stay in BiH but need the help of the government, employers, and universities. There are many emotional obstacles and societal expectations that have to be overcome with patience and perseverance.
Lamija Bašović is 22 years old with a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Sarajevo. She is proud to have graduated from a department she loves and says she invested a lot of effort and time in her studies. On the other hand, she also grapples with insecurity due to the current situation in the labor market.
As a student, she was led to believe that finding a job would be easy and that communication specialists and journalists could find their way into various positions. However, she soon realized that the job market is far more difficult, particularly when you lack experience. “That was one of the reasons that I decided to continue with my master’s studies,” Bašović said.
She tries to be optimistic, believing that with consistency and hard work, good opportunities will open up for her in BiH.
Mihajlo Pašić earned a degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Banja Luka. During his education, he actively participated in youth and student organizations. “I think that in addition to the professional knowledge I gained, this gave me a lot of skills that I might not have developed by just by working at the college. Specifically, I feel ready to step into the labor market,” said Pašić.
He added that he has big ambitions that include an international career. This doesn’t necessarily mean leaving BiH permanently, but he is considering going abroad for the necessary professional development.
“I think that would help me develop some of my own creative business ideas that I could launch at home in BiH, but maybe also at the international level,” said Pašić.
Bašović sees success as a sense of fulfillment and the possibility to do something he loves and still make a decent living. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be permanent employment, but the feeling that I have achieved something of my own, that I’m contributing to the community and have the freedom to choose which direction to go,” she explained.
Between 2021 and 2024, according to the BiH Agency for Statistics, the number of college-educated young people between 20 and 29 years old who are unemployed decreased. While the youth unemployment rate in 2021 was 29,2 %, by 2025, it had dropped to 20,3 %.
(Un)preparedness For the Labor Market
Asked if young people feel sufficiently prepared for the job market in BiH, Bašović answers: “I would say partially. I think that colleges provide a good, solid foundation, but a lot also depends on the student – how much they engage through internships, projects, and work with non-governmental organizations. In my case, the professors and the faculty itself really did a good job and tried to connect us with real practical opportunities.”
Pašić believes that there is a lot of room for improvement in the education system at large. This could include requiring paid professional internships, prioritizing practical classes over theoretical ones, integrating modern e-learning systems, and improving college and student services like exam registration and issuing certificates.
“As for the knowledge gained in college, it certainly exists, but I think it’s like an uncut diamond — insufficiently applied in practice,” he remarked.
Considering obstacles to employment such as nepotism, low salaries, and poor working conditions, Pašić believes that much also depends on the profession and the position you apply for.
“There are cases where unqualified workers are employed, by which I mean hired ‘under the radar,’—nepotism, political party benefits, and so on. It’s also interesting that many ‘junior’ positions listed in job advertisements require one, two, or three years of work experience, which I think is crazy because it narrows the circle of initial opportunities that a young person can apply for, even though they may be the perfect candidate in terms of qualifications,” added Pašić.
Bašović believes that it is difficult to get a job without previous experience, and the conditions for beginners are miserable and demoralizing. “Many young people quickly lose their motivation because they don’t see any room for advancement or have dignified working conditions,” she added.
As a solution, she suggests that the state create clear support programs for new college graduates like subsidized employment, mentoring, or start-up initiatives. As for universities, she says they should do more to connect students with the job sector, while employers should open their doors to young people through internships and traineeships rather than seeking out experience, which is impossible to gain without an opportunity.
“Universities should devote a little more attention to their students as individuals, not only their grades, to check how they’re doing after completing their studies, whether they need help, job offers that match their profile, and the like,” Pašić suggested.
Supporting Young People
Psychologist Ana Martinović notes that graduation is often a time of excitement, pride, and relief because a life chapter is coming to an end. However, soon after the initial enthusiasm wears off, she says that other emotions appear: fear, uncertainty, and insecurity. “That period represents a kind of turning point between education and employment, and for many young people it becomes a challenge filled with questions about the future and their own possibilities,” said Martinović.
According to her, the pattern of enthusiasm followed by insecurity can be seen in almost all young people after completing their studies, and one of the key reasons lies in the unfavorable labor market and the increasing number of young people going abroad. “Influenced by the examples of those who have failed to find an adequate job in their field and achieve financial stability, many young people decide to leave the country, often before even trying to find a professional path here,” said Martinović.
She explained that while growing up, young people are faced with the expectations of their family, community, and society. Ideally, these expectations are accompanied by support that facilitates their realization. However, when expectations are too high and support is lacking, it gives rise to pressure, anxiety, and frustration. She added that there are also expectations that we set for ourselves, and that it’s important that they be realistic so we learn to support ourselves, to encourage ourselves, and not to give up.
Martinović pointed out that parental, societal, and personal expectations are often not in line with reality. “Young people want a job in their field, a stable income, stable housing. When it doesn’t come true as they imagined, there is disappointment, and comparison with others further strengthens the feeling of failure,” she said, adding that impatience and the sense of stagnation that come with this are tempered by hopes of eventual success.
Martinović tells young people to gird themselves with patience and persistence.
“Don’t give up at the first challenge. Listen to yourself and your needs, because the inner voice is the one that leads us forward. Outside comments made with ‘good intentions’ that make you feel guilty or insecure shouldn’t be taken too seriously. Listening to yourself and your intuition is the best way,” she concluded.
