DZS: 1.8% More Employed in May Year-on-Year

At the end of May, there were 1.69 million employed persons in Croatia, which is two percent more than the previous month and 1.8 percent more than in May last year, with the registered unemployment rate falling to five percent, according to data from the Croatian Bureau of Statistics (DZS).

According to recently published data from the DZS, in May there were 1,688,586 employed persons in Croatia, which is an increase of 33,654 or two percent compared to the end of April this year. Year-on-year, the total number of employed persons increased by 1.8 percent.

In legal entities, there were 1,451,505 employed persons, which is an increase of 23,750 persons or 1.7 percent compared to a month earlier. Compared to the same month last year, the number of employed in legal entities increased by 1.3 percent.

According to data that the DZS obtains from the records of the Croatian Pension Insurance Institute, at the end of May 2024, there were 219,016 employed persons in crafts and free professions, which is an increase of 9,972 or 4.8 percent compared to April this year. Year-on-year, the number of employed in crafts and free professions was higher by 5.4 percent.

The number of employed insured farmers, of which there were 18,065 at the end of May, fell by 0.4 percent on a monthly basis and by 1.7 percent on a yearly basis.

Year-on-Year, the Highest Percentage Growth in Employment in Construction

More detailed statistics on the number of employed in legal entities show that the only decline in the number of employed on a monthly basis was recorded in the electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply sector, with a slight decrease of 0.2 percent to 14,414.

On the other hand, the most significant increase in the number of employed on a monthly basis was recorded in the accommodation and food service activities, i.e., hospitality and tourism, by 12.1 percent to 91,925.

Out of a total of 19 areas of activity for which the DZS publishes data, 12 employed more workers at the end of May this year than at the end of the same month last year, with the highest percentage growth recorded in construction, by 5.6 percent, resulting in 122,658 employed in that sector at the end of May this year.

A somewhat significant year-on-year increase was also recorded in administrative and support service activities, by 3.8 percent to 59,000 employed, and in hospitality and tourism, by 3.6 percent.

Regarding the decline in the number of employed on a yearly basis, other service activities lead with a percentage of 2.8 percent, counting 20,818 employed at the end of May this year. This is followed by public administration and defense; compulsory social security, with a decrease in the number of employed by 2.1 percent compared to May 2023, totaling 110,124.

As the sector with the largest number of employed, the manufacturing industry recorded a year-on-year decline of one percent to 233,005, while in wholesale and retail trade, the number of employed increased by 2.1 percent year-on-year to 222,399, according to DZS statistics.

The Number of Unemployed Decreased by 10,500 on a Monthly Basis

According to data obtained by the DZS from the Croatian Employment Service (HZZ), at the end of May 2024, there were 88,327 registered unemployed persons in the records of the Service, which is 10,493 persons or 10.6 percent less compared to April this year.

The registered unemployment rate, calculated as the ratio of unemployed to the total active population, was five percent in May, which is 0.6 percentage points lower than in April this year, according to DZS data. Year-on-year, the number of unemployed fell by 9.6 percent.