The beginning of 2026 brought expected winter trends to the Croatian labor market, but also confirmation of the long-term recovery in employment.

According to the latest official data published by the Croatian Employment Service, at the end of January there were a total of 87,935 registered persons in the unemployment register. Although this figure at first glance suggests an increase compared to December last year, a deeper analysis reveals a significantly more positive picture when the data are compared with the same period last year.

Seasonal impact versus annual trend

January is traditionally the month in which the Croatian labor market records an increase in the number of unemployed, primarily due to the reduced volume of work in tourism, construction, and agriculture during the winter. Thus, this January the number of unemployed increased by 6.4% , or by 5,310 persons compared to the previous month. However, the key indicator of labor market health is the annual comparison, which shows that unemployment decreased by as much as 9.7% compared to January 2025. This means that there were 9,406 fewer persons in the register than a year earlier, indicating the continuation of the trend of strengthening demand for labor despite seasonal fluctuations.

Who are the unemployed citizens?

Analyzing the structure of the unemployed by gender, the data show that women still make up the majority in the Service's register with a share of 52.7%, while men account for 47.3%. Still, it is encouraging that the number of unemployed decreased in both groups on an annual basis, with a decline of 10.3% recorded among women and 9.0% among men.

Viewed by age groups, unemployment fell in all categories compared to last year. The most significant decrease, of almost 15%, was recorded in the group of persons aged 55 to 59, suggesting that older workers are also integrating more successfully into the labor market or retiring. On the other hand, young people aged 25 to 29 recorded the mildest decline in unemployment.

When it comes to educational structure, the largest share of the unemployed consists of persons with completed secondary education. More than 60 percent of all unemployed persons have three-year or four-year secondary school education. On the other hand, highly educated persons make up a smaller part of the register, with a share of 8.6%, confirming that a degree still provides greater security in the labor market. Interestingly, the largest relative decline in unemployment was recorded precisely among persons with a lower level of education, namely those who completed only primary school.

Regional specificities and the 'Adriatic paradox'

The geographical distribution of unemployment continues to reflect the specific features of the Croatian economy. Split-Dalmatia County in January held the unenviable title of the county with the highest number of unemployed, with almost 15 thousand persons in the register, accounting for 17% of total unemployment in the country. It is followed by Osijek-Baranja County and the City of Zagreb. In contrast, Lika-Senj County records the lowest number of unemployed, only 1,192 persons.

Despite these absolute figures, most counties are recording positive trends. In as many as nineteen counties, lower unemployment was recorded than last year. Istria County leads this positive trend with a drop in unemployment of as much as 21.4%, followed by Požega-Slavonia County and Sisak-Moslavina County. The only exceptions are Zadar County and Zagreb County, where a slight increase in the number of unemployed was recorded.

Employment dynamics and employer demand

During January, 16,821 persons were newly registered in the unemployment register. The vast majority of them came directly from employment, most often due to the expiration of fixed-term contracts or the end of seasonal jobs. Most of the newly registered workers had previously worked in tourism, hospitality, and trade, which is typical for this time of year.

At the same time, 11,511 persons left the register. Of these, more than half managed to find employment, with the majority finding fixed-term jobs. The sectors that hired the most in January were education, manufacturing, and trade. A significant number of persons were removed from the register for administrative reasons, such as non-compliance with legal provisions or deregistration, which is an increase of 46% compared to last year.

Employers also expressed significant demand for labor in January, reporting 20,742 job vacancies. The most sought-after workers were in education, tourism and hospitality, and healthcare and social welfare. This figure on strong demand in tourism already in January suggests that the sector is intensively preparing for the upcoming tourist season.

The number of unemployment benefit recipients is rising

One of the more interesting pieces of data from the January report is the increase in the number of unemployment benefit recipients. Although the total number of unemployed fell on an annual basis, the number of those receiving unemployment benefits increased by 16.3%. Currently, 29,282 persons receive benefits, meaning that this social security measure covers every third unemployed citizen. This can be interpreted as a higher share of people who lost their jobs after a longer period of employment, thereby acquiring the right to benefits, or as changes in the structure of those entering the register.

Data from the Croatian Employment Service for January 2026 confirm the stability of the domestic labor market. Although winter brought the usual seasonal increase in the number of unemployed, the strong year-on-year decline is a clear indicator that the economy continues to generate jobs.

Particularly encouraging is the reduction in unemployment among more vulnerable groups such as older workers and those with lower education. Given the strong demand for workers already at the beginning of the year, especially in the tourism sector, it is to be expected that with the arrival of spring the downward trend in unemployment will accelerate further.