Unemployment in July Falls 15.2% Year-on-Year
The Croatian Employment Service has released the latest labor market data. Split-Dalmatia County leads both in the number of unemployed and in new hiring.
The Croatian Employment Service has released the latest labor market data. Split-Dalmatia County leads both in the number of unemployed and in new hiring.
At the end of July 2026, 62,064 unemployed persons were registered with the Croatian Employment Service (HZZ), the HZZ announced on Monday, August 10. Compared to the same month last year, this is a decrease of 15.2 percent, or 11,119 fewer people, indicating a continuation of positive annual trends in the labor market.
However, monthly data reveal a different picture. Compared to June this year, the number of unemployed rose by 4.4 percent, which in absolute terms means 2,641 more people. According to the HZZ's daily data, 62,435 unemployed are currently registered, with 13,408 job vacancies advertised.
During July, a total of 12,949 new persons registered as unemployed, which is 5.7 percent fewer than in July 2025. The largest share, 9,117 or 70.4 percent, came directly from employment. From regular schooling, 1,979 persons (15.3 percent) entered the registry, while 1,853 persons (14.3 percent) registered from inactivity.
On the other hand, 10,308 persons left the unemployment registry, a decrease of 2.6 percent compared to July last year. Of that number, 6,025 found employment. The majority, 5,316 (88.2 percent), were employed based on establishing an employment relationship, while 709 persons (11.8 percent) were engaged through other business activities. Additionally, 4,283 persons were removed from the registry for other reasons, including retirement, return to regular schooling, or failure to comply with legal obligations in job seeking.
The highest number of new hires based on employment relationships was recorded in the wholesale and retail trade sector, where 884 persons (16.6 percent) were engaged. This is followed by manufacturing with 779 employees (14.7 percent) and the accommodation, food preparation, and serving sector with 772 persons (14.5 percent).
Regionally, Split-Dalmatia County was the clear leader in hiring with 761 newly employed persons (14.3 percent of the total). In second place is Osijek-Baranja County (619 persons or 11.6 percent), and in third is the City of Zagreb (599 persons or 11.3 percent).
Split-Dalmatia County also records the largest absolute number of registered unemployed, 9,258 persons, accounting for 14.9 percent of all unemployed in Croatia. By the number of unemployed, the City of Zagreb follows with 8,687 persons (14 percent) and Osijek-Baranja County with 8,006 persons (12.9 percent). The fewest unemployed were recorded in Lika-Senj County, only 664 persons or 1.1 percent of the total.
In July, 18,414 persons received financial benefits, representing 29.7 percent of the total number of unemployed. The number of benefit recipients slightly increased compared to July 2025, by 0.7 percent, or 121 more persons.
Regarding labor demand, employers advertised 9,897 job vacancies through HZZ services during July, expressing a need for a total of 18,311 workers. However, the number of sought-after workers is 5.4 percent lower than in the same month last year.
