In September, the number of employed decreased by as much as 11,000

At the end of September, there were 1,401,783 employed persons in Croatia, which is a decrease of 0.8 percent or about 11 thousand persons compared to the end of August, primarily due to a reduction in the number of employed in crafts, according to preliminary data from the Croatian Bureau of Statistics (DZS).

Data released by the DZS on Monday shows that the number of employed in September fell for the second month in a row, a result of the weakening positive impact of the tourist season, which is coming to an end.

Of the total number of employed, the largest portion, over 84 percent, or 1.18 million, were employed in legal entities. Compared to August, their number remained almost unchanged, with a decrease of only 242 persons.

In crafts and freelance professions, however, 199,537 persons were employed in September, which is a decrease of 5.1 percent or 10,662 persons compared to August, and the number of agricultural insurance holders also decreased by 0.4 percent, to 19,712.

The decline in the number of employed in crafts is thus ‘most responsible’ for the reduction in the total number of employed in September. Namely, at the end of September this year, the total number of employed decreased by 10,979 persons compared to August.

When viewed by activity, out of the 19 activity groups according to the National Classification of Activities, at the end of September, the number of employed was higher than in August in only three activities – water supply and wastewater management (1.1 percent), education (0.5 percent), and health care and social welfare (0.3 percent).

The largest percentage decline in the number of employed is simultaneously recorded in mining and quarrying (by 17.3 percent), in construction (by 3.9 percent), other service activities (3.8 percent), the financial and insurance sector (3.6 percent), and agriculture, forestry, and fishing (2.9 percent).

According to data that the DZS obtains from the Croatian Employment Service (HZZ), there were 211,827 unemployed persons at the end of September. This is a decrease of 0.7 percent or 1,513 persons compared to August, but at the same time, the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 13.1 percent.

However, daily data published by the HZZ on its website shows that the number of unemployed continues to increase. Currently, there are 225,393 unemployed persons, which is about 13.5 thousand more than at the end of September, while the number of job vacancies currently published is 11,137.