The number of employees in the Croatian textile industry has dramatically decreased. In just seven years, the number of employees in the textile, clothing, leather, and footwear industry has decreased by nine thousand jobs, and only about six thousand employees remain in clothing production.
This was shown by a study conducted by the New Union, which published parts of the research on its website, and as they state, this is a continuation of the analysis from 2019, when this association conducted the first comprehensive study of the textile industry in Croatia.
The study was repeated in 2025, and comparative results and findings were presented to the public by Ana Vragolović, the research coordinator. She emphasized during this occasion, as reported on the union’s website, that the number of workers is declining because factories are closing.
– The list of foreign fashion brands for which clothing was sewn in Croatian facilities has also decreased. Among the most well-known are the German brand Olymp, for which workers from Požega’s Orljava sewed, workers in Krapina produced for Hugo Boss, and the Italian Benetton closed its main facility in Osijek in 2025. Consequently, several smaller subcontracting companies also closed – warned the research coordinator.
Working Conditions Remain Unchanged
Despite government increases in the minimum wage, the earnings of workers in the textile sector remain low and insufficient to cover the rising cost of living. Additionally, there is insufficient investment in facilities and equipment.
