Editing Skopje (section)

==Economy==

===Economic weight===
[[File:Skopje X9.JPG|thumb|The small business district]]
Skopje is a medium city at the European level. Being the capital and largest city of North Macedonia, Skopje concentrates a large share of the national economy. The [[Skopje Statistical Region]], which encompasses the City of Skopje and some neighbouring municipalities, produces 45.5% of the Macedonian GDP.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stat.gov.mk/pdf/2011/3.1.11.03.pdf |title=Gross domestic product and gross fixed capital formation, by regions, 2009 |publisher=State Statistical Office of the Republic of Macedonia |access-date=19 March 2012}}</ref> In 2009, the regional GDP per capita amounted to US$6,565, or 155% of the Macedonian GDP per capita.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stat.gov.mk/pdf/2011/3.1.11.03.pdf |title=Gross domestic product and gross fixed capital formation, by regions |publisher=State Statistical Office of the Republic of Macedonia |year=2009 |access-date=14 October 2012}}</ref> This figure is, however, smaller than the one of neighboring [[Sofia]] (US$10,106),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lmlegalservices.com/blog/archives/825 |title=Bulgaria – Regional Differences |year=2012 |publisher=LM Legal Services |access-date=14 October 2012}}</ref> [[Sarajevo]] (US$10,048)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://siteresources.worldbank.org/ECAEXT/Resources/258598-1279117170185/7247167-1279119399516/7247361-1279119430793/sarajevo.pdf |title=Resouyrce data |date=21 May 2010 |website=siteresources.worldbank.org}}</ref> or Belgrade (US$7,983),<ref>{{Cite book |title=Serbia on the Road to Eu Accession: Consequences for Agricultural Policy and the Agri-Food Chain |author=Siemen Van Berkum et Natalija Bogdanov |publisher=CABI |year=2012 |isbn=9781780641454 |page=40}}</ref> but higher than the one of [[Tirana]] (US$4,126).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.top-channel.tv/english/artikull.php?id=2632 |title=Albanian economy concentrated in Tirana |publisher=Top Channel |year=2011 |access-date=14 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016020348/http://www.top-channel.tv/english/artikull.php?id=2632 |archive-date=16 October 2013}}</ref>

Because there are no other large cities in the country, and because of political and economic centralisation, a large number of Macedonians living outside of Skopje work in the capital city. The dynamism of the city also encourages [[rural exodus]], not only from North Macedonia, but also from [[Kosovo]], [[Albania]] and Southern [[Serbia]].<ref name="quality">{{cite web |url=http://hrcak.srce.hr/file/80214 |title=The Quality of Life and Regional Development in FYR Macedonia |year=2010 |publisher=Hrčak, Portal znanstvenih časopisa Republike Hrvatske |author=William Bartlett |author2=Hristina Cipusheva |author3=Marjan Nikolov |author4=Miroljub Shukarov |access-date=19 March 2012}}</ref>

===Firms and activities===

In 2009, Skopje had 26,056 firms but only 145 of them had a large size. The large majority of them are either small (12,017) or very small (13,625).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stat.gov.mk/PXWeb2007bazi/Dialog/Saveshow.asp |title=Firms by size and municipality |year=2009 |publisher=State Statistical Office of the Republic of Macedonia |access-date=4 March 2011}}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> A large share of the firms deal with trading of goods (9,758), 3,839 are specialised in business and real estate, and 2,849 are manufacturers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stat.gov.mk/PXWeb2007bazi/Dialog/Saveshow.asp |title=Firms by activity sector |publisher=State Statistical Office of the Republic of Macedonia |access-date=4 March 2011}}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Although few in number, large firms account for 51% of the local production outside finance.<ref name="region"/>
[[File:Skopje X132.JPG|thumb|left|The [[Imperial Tobacco]] plant]]The city industry is dominated by food processing, textile, printing and metal processing. In 2012, it accounted for 30% of the city's GDP.<ref name="region">{{cite web |url=http://rdc.mk/skopje/images/InvestmentPotentials.pdf |title=Investment Potentials of Skopje Region |publisher=Skopje Region |year=2012 |access-date=15 October 2012}}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Most of the industrial areas are in [[Gazi Baba municipality]], on the major routes and rail lines to Belgrade and [[Thessaloniki]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gazibaba.gov.mk/profil-na-opstinata.html |title=За Гаѕи Баба |year=2010 |publisher=Gazi Baba municipality |access-date=14 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120904101934/http://www.gazibaba.gov.mk/profil-na-opstinata.html |archive-date=4 September 2012}}</ref> Notably, the [[ArcelorMittal]], Makstil steel plants and the Skopje Brewery are present there. Other zones are between Aerodrom and Kisela Voda, along the railway to [[Greece]]. These zones comprise Alkaloid Skopje (pharmaceuticals), Rade Končar (electrical supplies), [[Imperial Tobacco]], and Ohis (fertilisers). Two [[special economic zone]]s also exist, around the airport and the Okta refinery. They have attracted several foreign companies, such as [[Johnson Controls]], [[Johnson Matthey]] and [[Van Hool]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fez.gov.mk/interactive-map.html |title=TIDZ Skopje 1 |publisher=Directorate for Technological Industrial Development Zones |access-date=14 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024003817/http://fez.gov.mk/interactive-map.html |archive-date=24 October 2012}}</ref>

As the country's financial capital, Skopje is the seat of the [[Macedonian Stock Exchange]], of the [[National Bank of North Macedonia|National Bank]], and of most of the country's banking, insurance, and telecommunication companies, such as [[Makedonski Telekom]], [[Komercijalna banka Skopje]] and [[Stopanska Banka]]. The services sector produces 60% of the city GDP.<ref name="region"/>
[[File:Zeleno pazarce - Flickr - ImogenX (9).jpg|thumb|The Zelen Pazar ("green market")]]
Besides many small traditional shops, Skopje has two large markets, the "Zelen Pazar" (green market) and the "Bit Pazar" (flea market). They are both considered local institutions.<ref name="thiesen57"/> However, since the 1970s, retailing has largely been modernised and Skopje now has many supermarkets and shopping centres. The largest, Skopje City Mall, opened in 2012. It comprises a [[Carrefour]] hypermarket, 130 shops and a cinema, and employs 2,000 people.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://finchannel.com/Main_News/Banks/117152_Macedonian_shoppers_set_for_retail_revolution_with_EBRD_support/ |title=Macedonian shoppers set for retail revolution with EBRD support |publisher=The Financial |year=2012 |access-date=14 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006072101/http://finchannel.com/Main_News/Banks/117152_Macedonian_shoppers_set_for_retail_revolution_with_EBRD_support/ |archive-date=6 October 2012}}</ref>
[[File:Skopje City Mall.jpg|thumb|Skopje City Mall]]

===Employment===

51% of the Skopje active population is employed in small firms. 52% of the population work in the services sector, 34% in industry, and the remaining is mainly employed in administration.<ref name="region"/>

The unemployment rate for the [[Skopje Statistical Region]] was at 27% in 2009, three points under the national rate (30%). The neighbouring [[Polog Statistical Region|Polog Region]] had a similar rate, but the less affected region was the [[Southwestern Statistical Region|South-West]], with 22%.<ref>{{Cite book |title=The Quality of Life and Regional Development in FYR Macedonia |publisher=Croatian Economic Survey |year=2010 |pages=121–162 |author=William Bartlett |author2=Hristina Cipusheva |author3=Marjan Nikolov |author4=Miroljub Shukarov}}</ref> Unemployment in Skopje mainly affects men, who represent 56% of jobseekers, people between 25 and 44 years old (45% of jobseekers), and non-qualified people (43%).<ref name="region"/> Unemployment also concerns [[Roma people]], who represent 4.63% of the city population but affects 70% of the active population in the community.<ref name="roma">{{cite web |url=http://upcommons.upc.edu/revistes/bitstream/2099/12139/1/C_27_2.pdf |title=Revisiting Topaana: touring a neighborhood where the other 1% lives |author=Jasna Stefanovska |access-date=15 October 2012}}</ref>

The average net monthly wage in Skopje was at €400 in October 2010, which represented 120% of the national figure.<ref name="brutno">{{cite web |url=http://www.mkd.mk/35313/makedonija/prosek-bruto-plata-makedonija-skopje/ |title=Скопска просечна бруто плата 593 евра, 20 отсто над државниот просек |year=2012 |publisher=MKD.mk |access-date=15 October 2012 |archive-date=20 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120820132923/http://www.mkd.mk/35313/makedonija/prosek-bruto-plata-makedonija-skopje/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The average wage in Skopje was then lower than in [[Sarajevo]] (€522),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fzs.ba/BiltenKanton/BiltenK0415.pdf |title=MJESEČNI STATISTIČKI PREGLED FEDERACIJE BOSNE I HERCEGOVINE PO KANTONIMA |access-date=2 June 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151106165018/https://www.fzs.ba/BiltenKanton/BiltenK0415.pdf |archive-date=6 November 2015}}</ref> Sofia (€436),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sofia.bg/en/display.asp?ime=today |title=Sofia in figures – 2010 |access-date=15 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004121251/http://sofia.bg/en/display.asp?ime=today |archive-date=4 October 2012}}</ref> and in Belgrade (€440).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.b92.net/biz/vesti/srbija.php?yyyy=2011&mm=04&dd=27&nav_id=508518 |title=Plata 353 evra, u Beogradu 440 evra |publisher=B92 |year=2011 |access-date=15 October 2011}}</ref>