HZZ: In Croatia, there are 17.3 thousand fewer unemployed than a year ago

At the end of April this year, the Croatian Employment Service (HZZ) recorded 81,497 unemployed individuals, which is a decrease of 17.5 percent or 17,323 fewer than in April of last year, according to data released by HZZ on Monday. Compared to March, the number of unemployed decreased by 10.2 percent or 9,232 individuals.

According to daily data from HZZ, there are currently 78,159 unemployed registered, marking the first time that the number of registered unemployed has fallen below 80,000. At the same time, 20,410 job vacancies were announced.

During April of this year, a total of 9,958 individuals were newly registered as unemployed, which is 10.4 percent more than in April 2024. Of these, 7,403 individuals or 74.3 percent came from employment. Additionally, 147 individuals entered the unemployment register from regular schooling, and 2,408 from inactivity.

According to HZZ data, 19,190 individuals exited the unemployment register, which is 0.5 percent less than in April last year. Of these, 14,252 individuals were employed, with 13,271 individuals (93.1 percent) based on the establishment of an employment relationship and 981 individuals (6.9 percent) based on other business activities.

The highest employment rates were observed in hospitality, trade, and manufacturing.

Employment based on an employment relationship was most frequently realized in accommodation and food preparation and serving – 4,425 individuals or 33.3 percent. This was followed by wholesale and retail trade with 1,518 individuals or 11.4 percent, and manufacturing with 1,206 individuals or 9.1 percent.

In April, 4,938 individuals were removed from the unemployment register for other reasons, such as exiting the labor force (retirement, enrollment in regular schooling), non-compliance with legal provisions (not actively seeking work, unavailable for work), deregistration from the register, etc.

By counties, employment was led by Split-Dalmatia County (2,733 individuals or 20.6 percent of the total number of employed based on the establishment of an employment relationship), Osijek-Baranja County (1,255 individuals or 9.5 percent), and Dubrovnik-Neretva County (1,042 individuals or 7.9 percent).

The highest absolute number of registered unemployed individuals was recorded in Split-Dalmatia County with 13,399 (or 16.4 percent of the total in Croatia), Osijek-Baranja County (11,316 or 13.9 percent), and the City of Zagreb (9,847 or 12.1 percent), while the lowest was in Lika-Senj County (974 or 1.2 percent).

In April of this year, 19,117 individuals or 23.5 percent of the total number of unemployed received cash benefits. The number of cash benefit recipients increased by 9.8 percent or 1,702 individuals compared to the same month in 2024.

In April of this year, 12,159 job vacancies were announced through the services of the Employment Service, indicating a need for 21,351 workers. The number of requested workers decreased by 12.4 percent compared to the same month last year.