The number of Croatian pensioners who simultaneously receive a pension and work up to half of full-time hours has exceeded 40,000 for the first time.

As of 30 June 2026, there were 40,567 of them, and the total number of pensioners who work is even higher because this figure does not include those who work longer or full-time hours. This is shown by the Statistical Information of the Croatian Pension Insurance Institute.

The figure of 40,567 refers to recipients of old-age, early old-age, and survivor's pensions who work no more than half of the usual working hours. Some pensioners older than 65 have been able since the beginning of 2026 to work longer or full-time hours while receiving 50 percent of their pension, but HZMO keeps this group separately.

The increase is probably influenced by low pensions and higher living costs, but also by a shortage of workers, wage growth, and the desire of some older citizens to remain active.

Five years ago there were almost three times fewer

On average, during 2017 only 3,473 pensioners were working, while in 2021 there were 14,679. The annual average for 2025 reached 36,119, and by the end of June this year 40,567 were recorded. Today's figure is thus almost 12 times higher than in 2017 and almost three times higher than five years ago.

However, these data should be compared with caution. The figures for earlier years represent annual averages, while the figure for June 2026 refers to the situation on the last day of the month. In addition, since 2019 HZMO has gradually included additional groups, among them recipients of early old-age and survivor's pensions as well as some military and war veteran pensioners, so the increase is not only the result of higher employment.

Most of them work in trade

The largest number of employed pensioners work in trade, 6,598 of them. They are followed by manufacturing industry with 5,088 employed, professional, scientific and technical activities with 4,956, and administrative and support services with 4,328 pensioners. Almost 4,000 of them work in construction, but HZMO shows employers' activities rather than specific occupations, so it is not possible to determine from the data how many work as salespersons, cleaners, drivers, or in other jobs.