Employment and Wages: Montenegro Voters Top Issue

Employment and wages have emerged as the top priority for voters in Montenegro, according to our new poll. 50% of respondents cited these issues as the most important facing the country. This finding underscores the considerable pressure on the current government, led by Prime Minister Milojko Spajić and backed by the Movement Europe Now (ES) party, to deliver tangible economic improvements. More notably, the poll shows that support for employment and wages as the leading concern is especially pronounced among voters who supported the current President, Jakov Milatović—formerly a key figure in ES—and among those who say they will vote for ES if an election were held tomorrow.

The emphasis on employment and wages should come as no surprise given the promises that propelled ES to power in 2023. Central to the party’s campaign was the pledge to elevate the economic wellbeing of everyday Montenegrins through job creation, wage growth, and more robust social services. Jakov Milatović, initially a prominent deputy in the Movement Europe Now, rode a wave of public optimism into the presidency by framing his agenda around economic modernisation and social equity. Milojko Spajić, now at the helm of the government, bears the weight of fulfilling these promises.

There is good reason for this heightened focus on employment and wages: Montenegro, a small Balkan country with a population of just over 600,000, has faced economic volatility in recent years. Despite tourism’s strong contribution to GDP—particularly along the Adriatic coast—youth unemployment and underemployment remain persistent challenges. Many young Montenegrins see a lack of sufficient, stable, and well-paid jobs as a barrier to building a secure future in their home country. In some cases, these difficulties have prompted outward migration, particularly among skilled workers seeking opportunities elsewhere in Europe.

The poll underscores just how critical economic performance will be in shaping Montenegro’s immediate political future. When asked about factors influencing how they will vote in the next election, 88% of the public stated that a party’s stance on employment and wages is important in their decision-making. This near-consensus on the centrality of jobs and pay means that any governing party must demonstrate credible plans to spur job creation, raise incomes, and address the cost of living—issues made more pressing by inflationary pressures affecting many economies worldwide.

For the Movement Europe Now government, this data reveals both an opportunity and a challenge. On the one hand, having a clear policy priority can unify the party’s efforts, rally public support, and provide a focused legislative agenda. On the other hand, failing to demonstrate progress on these bread-and-butter issues risks a swift erosion of trust. Montenegrin voters, particularly those who previously aligned with the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) or other opposition groups, have been drawn to ES’s promises of a more equitable and forward-looking economic model. If those promises do not materialise swiftly, disillusionment may set in, paving the way for parties like DPS to regain the upper hand in public opinion.

Download the data tables for this poll.