In crafts and freelance professions in Croatia, there were 216,887 employed persons in September, which is 4.9 percent less than in August, reported the Croatian Bureau of Statistics.
In crafts, there were 193,835 employed persons, or 5.5 percent less, while in freelance professions, there were 23,052 persons, or 0.7 percent more than in the previous month.
The number of employed persons fell in 18 areas of activity, ranging from 0.4 percent in construction, education, and health care and social welfare, to 16 percent in hospitality, the sector with the highest number of employees in crafts. In crafts related to accommodation and food preparation and serving, there were 37,183 employed persons at the end of September.
By the number of employees in crafts and freelance professions, the manufacturing industry follows with 33,320 employed persons, which is 1.9 percent less than in August, and wholesale and retail trade, which recorded a monthly decline in the number of employees of 4.7 percent, to 31,311 persons.
In public administration and defense; compulsory social insurance, the number of employees in crafts and freelance professions increased by 1.6 percent, to 9,858 persons.
By counties, a decline was recorded in 19 counties, ranging from 0.2 percent in Zagreb, Koprivnica-Križevci, and Požega-Slavonia counties to 15.1 percent in Lika-Senj County.
An increase in the number of employees in crafts and freelance professions was achieved in Sisak-Moslavina County, by 0.2 percent, and Virovitica-Podravina County by 1.5 percent.
