Croatia: jobs and pay

What is the unemployment rate in Croatia?

The ILO unemployment rate for people aged 15 to 64 was 4.7% in the second quarter of 2026, 0.2 points lower than a year earlier, according to the DZS Labour Force Survey release. An estimated 84,000 people were unemployed and 1,723,000 employed. The employment rate for ages 15 to 64 was 69.2%.

The survey follows Eurostat methods, so the results are comparable across the EU. It is different from the count of people registered with the Croatian Employment Service, which depends on registration rules and is published monthly by HZZ.

Official sources: DZS: Labour Force in the Republic of Croatia, Q2 2026

What is the average salary in Croatia?

The average monthly net pay in Croatian legal entities was 1,540 euro in July 2026, according to the DZS earnings release. That is 7.2% more than a year earlier in nominal terms and 3.2% more after inflation. Average gross pay was 2,164 euro. The median net pay was 1,346 euro and the median gross 1,853 euro.

Net pay is after income tax, surtax and pension contributions. The highest average net pay was in air transport (2,398 euro) and the lowest in manufacture of clothing (1,005 euro). Since January 2026 the data use the new NKD 2025 activity classification. The figures cover legal entities only, not crafts and the self-employed.

Official sources: DZS: Average Monthly Net and Gross Earnings, July 2026

What is the minimum wage in Croatia?

Croatia's minimum wage is 1,050 euro a month gross in 2026, up from 970 euro in 2025, according to Eurostat's minimum wage data. Under the Minimum Wage Act the government sets the amount for the next year by decree by 31 October, on a proposal from the labour minister.

The labour ministry held its annual consultation with unions and employers on the 2027 amount on 14 October 2026, according to the Ministry of Labour. The government programme aims for a minimum wage of 1,250 euro by 2028, according to the Government.

Official sources: Eurostat: Monthly minimum wages · Ministry of Labour: Consultation on the minimum wage, 14 October 2026 (Croatian) · Government: Minimum wage target for 2028 (Croatian)

What is the average pension in Croatia?

The average net pension was 763.94 euro for pensions paid in September 2026 (for August), according to the Croatian Pension Insurance Institute's current statistics. That is 49.61% of the average net wage of 1,540 euro. For people with 40 or more years of service the average old-age pension was 1,075.72 euro.

HZMO paid 1,234,959 pensions to 1,797,071 insured workers, a ratio of 1 to 1.46. The first average covers all pension schemes, including special laws for war veterans; the average for the general scheme (ZOMO) alone was 701.53 euro.

Official sources: HZMO: Current statistics for August 2026 (Croatian)

What is Croatia's minimum wage?

The ILO puts the statutory minimum wage in Croatia at 1,050 EUR a month in 2026. No year since 2012 has been higher.

What is the average monthly salary in Croatia?

According to the ILO, average monthly earnings of employees in Croatia was $2,494 a month in 2025. No year since 2012 has been higher. It is 22nd highest of 32 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is $3,252 a month. Worldwide: 24th of 57.

How high is unemployment in Croatia?

The ILO puts the unemployment rate in Croatia at 5.0% in 2025. The peak was 17.2% in 2013 and the low 5.0% in 2024. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 5.5%, and Croatia placed 27th highest of 47. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 90th highest.

What is the youth unemployment rate in Croatia?

The ILO puts unemployment among 15 to 24 year olds in Croatia at 16.5% in 2025. No year since 2005 has been lower. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 14.2%, and Croatia placed 20th highest of 47. Worldwide: 62nd of 174.

What share of people in Croatia are in the labour force?

The latest figure from the ILO, for 2025, is 52.1%. Its high point since 2005 was 2008, at 53.1%; its low point was 2013, at 50.8%. It is 40th highest of 47 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 60.3%. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 142nd highest.

What share of women in Croatia are in the labour force?

47.4%: that is the labour force participation rate for women in Croatia for 2025, according to the ILO. The peak was 47.5% in 2024 and the low 44.4% in 2020. Europe & Central Asia median: 54.6%; Croatia is 37th highest of 47. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 122nd highest.

How many people in Croatia are employed?

The ILO puts the employment to population ratio in Croatia at 49.5% in 2025. The peak was 49.7% in 2024 and the low 42.0% in 2013. Europe & Central Asia median: 56.6%; Croatia is 40th highest of 47. Worldwide: 139th of 174.

What is vulnerable employment in Croatia?

In 2025, the share of workers who are own-account or contributing family workers in Croatia was 6.3%, according to the ILO. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. It is 42nd highest of 47 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 11.0%. World rank, highest first: 161st of 174.

What share of workers in Croatia earn a wage or salary?

According to the ILO, the share of workers who are paid employees in Croatia was 87.3% in 2025. No year since 2005 has been higher. Europe & Central Asia median: 85.5%; Croatia is 15th highest of 47. Worldwide: 27th of 174.