This article analyzes the public's perception of which criteria (education, bribery, family ties, etc.) are determinant for public sector employment in Kosovo, using UNDP Public Pulse data covering 2011-2024. The data shows that the "bribery" factor, which was intensely perceived in public recruitment in the past, experienced a very sharp decline over the thirteen-year period, while the importance of merit-based criteria such as "education" and "professional experience" has gradually increased. For firms planning Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects and conducting integrated business with the state, this picture signals that transparency expectations and meritocracy beliefs in the public sector are strengthening. However, per Kosova Investment Joint Venture editorial principles, this improvement in meritocracy perception does not directly provide a tender guarantee, political assurance, or risk-free business environment; human resources and public relations processes must be managed with local legal professionals
The responses of Kosovo citizens to the question "What do you think is important for employment in the public sector?" by gender reveal the dimensions of bureaucratic transparency: Collapse in Bribery Perception: In March 2011, the percentage of men who thought bribery was important for public employment was at a high level of 29.0%, and in May 2024 data this rate had declined dramatically to 7.7%. The same rate was measured at 9.3% for women as of 2024. Rise of the Education Factor: The percentage of those who believed education was important for entering the public sector was 12.1% for men and 14.2% for women in 2011; by May 2024 this rose to 17.5% for men and 18.4% for women, showing that meritocracy expectations have increased. Family Connections: While 38.8% of women in 2011 saw family ties as the most important factor for finding public employment, by 2024 this rate had declined to 25.1%, indicating improvement in nepotism perception
Publisher: Kosova Investment / KS Law Consultancy L.L.C. Copyright notice: © Kosova Investment / KS Law Consultancy L.L.C. All rights reserved. This content was prepared by Att. Mehmet Vehbi Filiz. It may not be copied, reproduced, republished, or used for commercial purposes without written permission.