In July, there were 87,798 unemployed in Croatia

At the end of July this year, the Croatian Employment Service (HZZ) registered 87,798 unemployed persons, which is 15.4 percent or 15,976 persons less than in July last year, the HZZ reported on Monday.

However, compared to June this year, the number of unemployed increased by 3.5 percent or 2,957 persons, marking the first increase in the number of unemployed on a monthly basis after five months.

According to daily data from the HZZ, there are currently 87,701 unemployed registered at the Service, and 15,513 job vacancies have been advertised.

During July, 15,508 persons were newly registered in the HZZ’s unemployment records, which is 1.3 percent less than in July last year. Of these, 70.1 percent or 10,870 persons came directly from employment. Additionally, 1,871 persons (12.1 percent) entered the unemployment records from inactivity, and 2,767 persons (17.8 percent) from regular schooling.

According to HZZ data, 12,551 persons exited the unemployment records, which is 17.9 percent more than in July 2023. Of these, 8,224 persons were employed, with 7,286 persons (or 88.6 percent) based on establishing an employment relationship and 938 persons (or 11.4 percent) based on other business activities.

The recorded employment based on an employment relationship was most frequently realized in wholesale and retail trade with 1,091 persons or 15 percent. This was followed by accommodation, food preparation and serving with 995 persons or 13.7 percent, manufacturing with 844 persons or 11.6 percent, and health care and social assistance activities with 700 persons or 9.6 percent.

In July, 4,327 persons exited the unemployment records for other reasons according to the law, e.g., leaving the labor force (retirement, enrollment in regular schooling), non-compliance with legal provisions (not actively seeking work, unavailable for work), deregistration from the records, etc.

Among the counties, the leading regions in employment were Osijek-Baranja County with 1,135 persons or 15.6 percent of the total number of employed based on establishing an employment relationship, Split-Dalmatia County with 1,025 persons or 14.1 percent, the City of Zagreb with 647 persons or 8.9 percent, and Sisak-Moslavina County with 469 persons or 6.4 percent.

The largest absolute number of registered unemployed persons was recorded in Split-Dalmatia County, 14,119 (or 16.1 percent of the total number in Croatia), Osijek-Baranja County (11,780 or 13.4 percent), and the City of Zagreb (10,971 or 12.5 percent), while the smallest was in Lika-Senj County (976 or 1.1 percent).

In July, 19,159 persons or 21.8 percent of the total number of unemployed received cash benefits. The number of cash benefit recipients decreased compared to the same month last year by 6.3 percent or 1,295 persons.