In April, the number of unemployed in Croatia decreased on a monthly basis for the first time since June of last year, but the recovery of the labor market is expected only at the beginning of 2011 after the recovery of the real sector, analysts from Raiffeisen Consulting state in their analysis of labor market trends.
According to the latest data from the Croatian Employment Service, at the end of April, there were 308,675 registered unemployed persons, which is 9,983 persons, or 3.1 percent, less than in March, but 44,890 persons, or 17 percent, more than in the same month last year. A significant contribution came from employment in seasonal jobs, where 4,869 persons were employed in April, which is significantly more than in the first three months combined (1,969 persons), but also expected, given the start of the tourist pre-season, analysts from Raiffeisen Consulting note.
Accordingly, the highest number of persons employed was in the accommodation and food preparation and serving activities (3,621), followed by trade (2,281), manufacturing (2,270), and construction (1,530). The recorded decrease in the number of registered unemployed persons on a monthly basis in April is the first monthly decline since June 2009, which is expected, given the seasonal nature of the Croatian labor market, i.e., increased employment before the main tourist season, analysts from Raiffeisen Consulting state.
