At the end of August, there were 283,330 unemployed individuals registered at the Croatian Employment Service (HZZ), which is 538 persons or 0.2% more than the previous month, and 32,325 persons or 12.9% more than in August of last year.
The slight increase in unemployment compared to July is a result of the reduced scope of seasonal employment and an additional influx of individuals into the registry of the Service who wish to seek employment after completing their regular education, HZZ reported today. This has interrupted the trend of decreasing unemployment compared to the previous month, which had lasted since April. However, throughout this period, the number of unemployed was higher compared to the same months of the previous year. In August, 17,878 individuals registered as unemployed, which is 25.6% less than the previous month and 0.2% less than in August 2009. A total of 10,651 individuals, or 59.6% of the total number of newly registered, came directly from employment. The highest number of new registrations came from wholesale and retail trade (2,659 or 19.2%), manufacturing (2,596 or 18.8%), construction (1,860 or 13.4%), accommodation and food preparation and serving (1,563 or 11.3%), and education (745 or 5.4%). A total of 17,340 individuals left the registered unemployment, which is 36% less than in July and 11.9% more than in August 2009.
Due to employment, whether under an employment contract, contract for work, or other forms of work, 7,770 individuals or 44.8% left the registry, while others left for various reasons. At the same time, the number of employed was 9,174 individuals or 54.1% less than the previous month, and 482 individuals or 6.6% more than in August 2009. A total of 7,321 individuals were employed under an employment contract, which is 55.9% less than in July and 2.5% more than in August last year. The highest number of individuals were employed in manufacturing (1,581 or 21.6% of the total number of employed), trade (1,466 or 20%), accommodation and food preparation and serving (1,059 individuals or 14.5%), construction (775 or 10.6%), and administrative and support service activities (664 or 9.1%). Of the total number of unemployed, there were 154,797 women (54.6%) and 128,533 men (45.4%). The highest absolute number of unemployed was in the City of Zagreb (37,250 or 13.1% of the total in Croatia), Split-Dalmatia County (34,084 or 12%), and Osijek-Baranja County (31,569 or 11.1%), while the lowest number was recorded in Lika-Senj County (2,918 or 1%). In August, 69,919 unemployed individuals or 24.7% received cash benefits. The number of beneficiaries decreased compared to the previous month by 804 individuals or 1.1%, while compared to the same month last year, it increased by 5,625 individuals or 8.7%. (H)
