Citizens Tell the Government What They Think About Employment Policy

Given the economic situation, it is difficult to decide what should be the priority for the Croatian government at this moment. However, the portal MojPosao decided to find the answer to this question in a survey conducted with over 500 respondents.

The majority of respondents (40 percent) believe that the government’s priority should be to reduce unemployment ‘because without employment there is no progress in other segments’.

 -If more people worked, it would be better, because one employed person cannot finance four retirees, that is unsustainable- warns one respondent, while another adds that it is ‘shameful that we are unable to employ all citizens’ because we have a small population and ‘we could live better than any country in the world’.

Respondents warn about the problem of employment through ‘connections’; that ‘there are many young people who want to work, but they are not given the opportunity for employment’, which is why they leave the country, and they believe it is necessary to limit volunteering and work through ‘student services’.

According to 27 percent of respondents, the government’s priority should be to initiate investments because only ‘initiating the investment cycle can reduce unemployment’. -Existing companies are so burdened by various contributions to the state that they are unable to create enough new jobs- believes one respondent, while another suggests: -Economic zones should be introduced, the first five years without taxes, so that people come to invest and earn.-

25% of respondents believe that the government’s priority should be to reduce state administration, stating that the administration is ‘too expensive and unnecessarily large for this country’. They believe that there are too many ‘useless agencies and oversized ministries’ in Croatia, and that the number of municipalities and officials working there should also be reduced.

-Not even massive investments can cover salaries for such a huge state administration- thinks one respondent, while another suggests that ‘processes should be expedited and duplicate steps and documentation eliminated’.

Among other government priorities, according to 4 percent of respondents, should be: the development of a national strategy, amendments to the law on the Croatian National Bank, postponement of Croatia’s entry into the European Union, agricultural development, and limiting imports.

-The government should stop spending the money of people who actually do something- comments one respondent. Another respondent, however, believes that the government is doing its job well. -Just let the government continue like this- he says.

Only 3 percent of respondents believe that the government’s priority should be alignment with the European Union at all levels.

-Only when we have the same laws will EU investments become understandable to us… until then, we will have a very low percentage of utilized funds- thinks one respondent, while another concludes: 

-Well, it is normal that first everything should be legally arranged, and then start from the priorities.-