Contents

Executive Summary

The field research within the GET YES 2 Project in N. Macedonia was conducted by a team of researchers composed of the Association of Citizens CEFE Macedonia. The research included two target groups: young people aged 15-35 years old and organizations that support entrepreneurs in the country and region. It used the questionnaire set by the project applicant organization, conducted small number of field visits to organizations, and conducted telephone and electronic communications in order to collect the required minimum number of questionnaires in the partner country. Thus, the number of completed electronic questionnaires is 111.

It is a small curiosity that young women are more interested in entrepreneurship and business than young man nowadays. Almost two thirds of the respondents are female, at the age of 15 to 35. More than half of the survey participants are secondary school students aged 15 to 18, while the rest of them are mostly university students. This fact speaks volumes that young people are very enthusiastic about participation in training and workshops, and gaining new knowledge and skills beside the traditional education they get in school.

Most of the survey participants are young people that are still in the education process, while only a few of them are currently operating their own business.

Half of the survey participants stated they have already participated in entrepreneurship training, mainly on lectures and presentation courses as part of the school curriculum. This fact explains the reasons why young people show great interest in training participation and non formal education.

Although not many of them have obtained any entrepreneurial competences, 70 % of the respondents declared that their main motivation to obtain new entrepreneurial skills is the idea to open and run their own business. This is a clear indicator that young people nowadays strive to equip them with new skills and entrepreneurial mindset in order to be financially independent in the near future. Another thing to mention is that most of them didn’t have the opportunity to take part in business skills training and workshops, which is due to the fact that there are not enough business skills training on the market the young people can participate or can allow themselves.

67 % of the respondents are planning to establish their own business, while the rest of them are interested in gaining entrepreneurial skills and competences.

Regarding the strengths they possess in business establishment are: having a good idea, having competences for business management and having business supporters.

The survey participants are mainly interested and want to invest in traditional entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship. The least of them are interested or want to invest in Circular economy respectively. The reason that most of the interviewees chose the social entrepreneurship as their main type of economy is due to the fact that there are many social issues in our country that are not resolved and it is very encouraging to see that the conscience among young people about their area of living is getting on a higher level. The fact that Traditional entrepreneurship, on the other hand, is still dominant on the domestic market, explains the reason that most of the interviewees chose it as a prime type of economy to invest. Green economy which is number one priority in the European Union in the near future is not on our youths agenda so much.

Almost half of the interviewees stated that their main motive for opening a company is that it seems like a good career opportunity. 25 % are motivated in opening or having a company by the opportunity to put innovative ideas into practice. This is a clear indicator that young people nowadays prefer investing and growing a good career instead of just accumulating capital. They are aware of the fact that through career growth not only they will become rich, but they will gain different skills and knowledge, and a lot of experience, too. Quite interesting is the fact that 25 % of the survey participants already have an innovative idea that they want to put into practice, just that maybe they lack some of the decisive strengths in opening a business.

Problems such as lack of skills and knowledge to manage the business and lack of clear business strategy as well were listed as of very high importance from the survey participants.

According to skills requirements associated with running a business, respondents find it that very important is knowing how to make decisions, ability to generate assess and select a business idea that has potential on the market, ability to define the market needs and potential, effective time management, understanding and reading balance sheet and undertaking business plan presentation in front of donors, clients, employees and etc.

Following skills are rated with a high level of possessing by the respondent: ability for accepting responsibility, ability of making SMART goals, understanding and implementing the importance of digital marketing, Effective time management, understanding and reading profit and loss statements and undertaking business plan presentation in front of donors, clients, employees. Skills rated with low level of possessing among survey respondents are: understanding and using the cash flow statement for management purpose, knowing and understanding the profitability ratios.

Respondents stated that the most appropriate way of acquiring these knowledge and skills is through training, as well as by sharing experiences with other entrepreneurs. Gaining practical experiences is considered the best way of retaining skills.