November the 11th, 2026 – The Croatian unemployment rate is continuing to drop, with the figure having fallen by 15% in October this year compared to October 2025.
In October this year, 20,075 persons or 30.2 percent of the total number of unemployed used state monetary benefits. Poslovni reports that back at the end of October this year 66,425 unemployed individuals were recorded at the Croatian Employment Service (HZZ), which is 11,400 persons or 14.6 percent less than in October 2025, HZZ data published this week revealed.
a mixed bag
Compared to September the number of unemployed increased by 6.1 percent or 3,830 persons. According to HZZ daily data, currently 67,308 unemployed are registered at the service, and 13,099 free job positions have been advertised. During the month of October, a total of 16,792 new persons were registered in the unemployment register, which is 7.1 percent less than back in October last year. In this sum, the majority came from an employment relationship, that is 12,476 of them or 74.3 percent.
1,746 people from regular education (10.4 percent of the total number) and 2,570 persons from inactivity (15.3 percent) also entered into the unemployment register in the past month. The latest HZZ data shows that 12,962 persons left the unemployment register, which is 12.5 percent less than in October 2025. Of that 7,554 persons were employed, namely 7,029 persons or 93.1 percent on the basis of establishing an employment relationship and 525 persons or 6.9 percent on the basis of other business activities.
manufacturing reigns strong
The most frequent employment was established in the manufacturing industry. This October, 1,128 persons or 16 percent were employed in this sector. Wholesale and retail trade followed relatively closely with 983 individuals or 14 percent. This was followed by people coming directly from education, with the number totalling 903, or 12.8 percent. In October, 5,408 persons were removed from the unemployment register due to other reasons, e.g. leaving the force corps (retirement, inclusion in regular education), non-compliance with legal provisions (not actively seeking a job, unavailable for work), personal de-registration from the register and others.
Looking at the situation on a county by county basis, employment was led by Split-Dalmatia County (986 persons or 14 percent of the total number of those employed by establishing an employment relationship), the City of Zagreb (984 persons or 14 percent) and Osijek-Baranja County (736 persons or 10.5 percent). Split-Dalmatia County is also currently the home of the largest number of registered unemployed persons – 10,657 or 16 percent of the total number in all of Croatia. Looking at the situation based on the number of registered unemployed persons, the City of Zagreb (9,013 or 13.6 percent) and Osijek-Baranja County (7,757 or 11.7 percent) follow next.
In October this year, 20,075 persons or 30.2 percent of the total number of unemployed used the monetary benefit. The number of monetary benefit users decreased compared to the same month last year by 1.8 percent or by 374 persons. In October, 13,886 job positions were advertised through HZZ, through which the requirement for 21,519 employees was expressed. The number of sought workers decreased by 6.1 percent compared to the same month last year, the latest HZZ data shows.
