A survey conducted by the portal posao.hr in August revealed a pessimistic outlook among the majority of respondents. Specifically, 56 percent of them do not see a future for themselves and their children in Croatia, while nearly 75 percent believe they would live a better quality of life abroad.
The survey included respondents aged 25 to 34, mostly from the area of the city of Zagreb and Zagreb County. The inability to find any job, nepotism, non-transparent forms of employment, and low salaries are the most common reasons why respondents would seek work abroad. The results showed that more than 60 percent of people would permanently accept a job abroad if given the opportunity for a better salary, while 34 percent would only temporarily agree to that option. As the main reason for employment abroad, respondents cite higher earnings (65 percent) and the possibility of advancement and career development (26 percent).
Additionally, a further motivation for leaving Croatia is widespread corruption and the inability to find suitable jobs that would ensure a decent living. The results indicated that as many as 60 percent of respondents would temporarily accept a job abroad for which they would be overqualified, while 26 percent would permanently accept such conditions, and only 5 percent of respondents would not agree to that. It is also interesting to note that slightly more than a quarter of respondents have worked abroad, and as many as 95 percent believe that salaries abroad for jobs matching their qualifications are higher than in Croatia. Regarding the countries to which respondents would relocate for work, the majority – 58 percent would choose EU countries, while 20 percent would choose the USA and Canada, and 16 percent would seek their fortune in Australia. The employment of foreigners in Croatia would be supported by 30 percent of respondents, while 20 percent would not agree with their employment. The survey highlighted divided opinions regarding the status of foreign workers in Croatia, with more than 25 percent of respondents believing they are better paid, while the same number believes that foreign workers are in a worse position compared to Croatian workers.
