At the end of January, 293,236 unemployed persons registered

At the end of January, 293,236 unemployed persons were registered in Croatia, which is an increase of 2.7 percent or 7,768 persons compared to the previous month, and a decrease of 10.9 percent or 35,994 persons compared to January of last year, according to data published on Wednesday by the Croatian Employment Service (HZZ).

January marks the fifth consecutive month in which an increase in the number of unemployed persons has been recorded on a monthly basis.

However, according to daily data from HZZ, it seems that this trend could be interrupted in February. Namely, according to data from the HZZ website published on Wednesday afternoon, there were 292,819 persons in the unemployment registry, which is 417 persons less than at the end of January, and 16,609 job vacancies were also announced.

HZZ data on unemployment and employment in January show that 21,211 persons exited the registry in the first month of this year, which is one percent less than in January 2015. Of these, 11,992 persons were employed, while 9,219 persons left the unemployment registry for other reasons.

In January, 11,270 persons were employed based on the establishment of an employment relationship, and 722 persons based on other business activities.

The recorded employment based on employment relationships was most common in the manufacturing industry (2,347 persons), wholesale and retail trade (1,600 persons), education (1,309 persons), accommodation and food service activities (1,295 persons), administrative and support service activities (972 persons), and construction (872 persons).

By counties, in January, the City of Zagreb led in employment (1,655 persons or 14.7 percent of the total number of employed based on the establishment of an employment relationship), followed by Split-Dalmatia County (1,270 persons or 11.3 percent) and Osijek-Baranja County (1,060 persons or 9.4 percent), etc.

During January, a total of 28,979 persons were newly registered in the unemployment registry, which is 14.5 percent less than in January 2015, of which 74.2 percent or 21,505 persons came directly from employment. From inactivity, 21.9 percent or 6,360 persons entered the registry, from other business activities 1.5 percent or 437 persons, and from regular schooling 2.3 percent or 677 persons.

Considering the activity of previous employment, the highest number of persons coming directly from employment was from hospitality and tourism, with 4,635 persons or 21.6 percent. This was followed by the manufacturing industry with 3,475 persons (16.2 percent), trade with 2,926 persons (13.6 percent), construction with 2,212 persons (10.3 percent), and administrative and support service activities with 1,733 persons (8.1 percent).

In January, 53,916 persons or 18.4 percent of the total number of unemployed received cash benefits. The number of cash benefit recipients decreased by 16.1 percent compared to the same month in 2015.

The largest absolute number of registered unemployed persons is in Split-Dalmatia County (43,164 or 14.7 percent of the total number in Croatia), the City of Zagreb (37,695 or 12.9 percent), and Osijek-Baranja County (32,815 or 11.2 percent), while the smallest is in Lika-Senj County (3,905 or 1.3 percent).

In the total number of unemployed, women account for 54.5 percent (159,777 unemployed women), and men 45.5 percent (133,459 unemployed men). On an annual basis, the share of unemployed women has increased, while that of men has decreased by 1.1 percentage points.

Regarding age structure, persons aged 15 to 24 account for 17.6 percent of the total number of unemployed, those aged 25 to 34 account for 23 percent, those aged 35 to 44 account for 19.7 percent, those aged 45 to 54 account for 21.6 percent, and those aged 55 and over account for 18 percent.

Persons with a secondary education level make up the majority of the unemployed structure, 61.3 percent, with 25.9 percent of the total number having a lower education level, while the share of higher and university-educated individuals in the total number of unemployed is 12.9 percent.