Croatia Jobless Rate Hits 3-Month High

Croatia’s registered unemployment rate fell to 4.7% in February 2026 from a ten-month high of 4.9% in January. The number of unemployed persons dropped by 4.5% from a month earlier to nearly 84 thousand, of which 44.4 thousand were women. Employment also decreased by 0.6% to 1.694 million, while the labor force fell by 0.7% to 1.778 million. Paid employment in legal entities dropped by 0.7%, with most sectors recording job losses, led by manufacturing (-0.4%), wholesale and retail trade (-0.5%), construction (-1.1%), and public administration and defence; compulsory social security (-0.9%). Job gains were limited to education (1.2%), human health and social work (0.8%), and real estate (0.1%).

Croatia’s registered unemployment rate rose to 4.9% in January 2026 from 4.6% in the previous month, marking the highest level since March 2025. The number of unemployed persons surged by 6.4% month-on-month to a ten-month high of 87.9 thousand. At the same time, total employment declined by 0.8% to 1.70 million, while the labor force edged down by 0.5% to 1.79 million. Paid employment in legal entities fell by 0.7%, mainly due to declines in accommodation and food service activities (-11%), wholesale and retail trade (-2.5%), electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply (-1%), and agriculture, forestry and fishing (-0.9%). In contrast, employment increased in financial and insurance activities (1.3%), electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply (1%), mining and quarrying (0.6%), and construction (0.3%). For comparison, the unemployment rate in January of the previous year was higher at 5.4%.

Croatia’s registered unemployment rate rose to 4.6% in December 2025 from 4.5% in the previous month, marking the highest level since April. The number of unemployed persons increased by 1.9% month-on-month to a nine-month high of 82.6 thousand. Meanwhile, total employment declined by 1.0% to 1.72 million, while the labor force edged down by 0.9% to 1.80 million. Paid employment in legal entities fell by 1.0%, driven by declines in accommodation and food service activities (-4.0%), agriculture, forestry and fishing (-1.3%), construction (-1.3%), and manufacturing (-1.2%). In contrast, employment rose modestly in information and communication (0.1%) and human health and social work activities (0.2%). For comparison, the unemployment rate stood higher at 5.0% in December 2024.