First Release

Year: LXIII.
Zagreb, 22 September 2026
RAD-2026-2-1/8

ISSN 1334-0557

PERSONS IN PAID EMPLOYMENT, BY ACTIVITIES, AUGUST 2026

In August 2026, the total number of persons in employment in the Republic of Croatia was 1 777 224, out of which 827 769 were women. Compared to July 2026, the total number of persons in employment increased by 0.6% and the number of employed women by 0.4%. Compared to the same month of the previous year, the total number of persons in employment in August 2026 decreased by 1.1%, and the number of employed women by 0.5%. In the period from January to August 2026, as compared to the same period of the previous year, the total number of persons in employment decreased by 1.4% and the number of employed women by 0.8%.

In August 2026, the total number of persons in paid employment in legal entities in the Republic of Croatia amounted to 1 519 807, out of which 720 901 were women. Compared to July 2026, the number of persons in paid employment in legal entities increased by 0.8% and the number of employed women by 0.5%. The number of persons in paid employment in legal entities in August 2026, as compared to the same month of the previous year, decreased by 1.5%, while the number of employed women decreased by 0.6%. In the period from January to August 2026, as compared to the same period of the previous year, the number of persons in paid employment in legal entities decreased by 1.8% and the number of employed women by 1.0%.

In August 2026, as compared to the previous month, the number of persons in employment in crafts and trades and free lances decreased by 0.3% and the number of employed women by 0.5%. The total number of employed insured persons – private farmers decreased by 0.4%, and the number of employed female farmers by 0.3%.

The total number of unemployed persons increased by 1.8% and the number of unemployed women by 1.9% in August 2026, as compared to July 2026. The total registered unemployment rate in August 2026 was 3.4% and for women, it was 4.0%.

Detailed data by activities can be downloaded from the link Statistics in Line.

 

1 LABOUR FORCE OF REPUBLIC OF CROATIA, ACCORDING TO ADMINISTRATIVE SOURCES AND BY SEX

       VII 2026 VIII 2026 Indices
VIII 2026
VII 2026
VIII 2026
VIII 2025
I – VIII 2026
I – VIII 2025
Total Women Total Women Total Women Total Women Total Women
Active population (labour force) 1 828 435  858 366 1 840 420  861 901 100,7 100,4 98,3 98,7 98,0 98,5
Total persons in employment 1 766 371  824 856 1 777 224  827 769 100,6 100,4 98,9 99,5 98,6 99,2
Persons in paid employment in legal entities1) 1 508 052  717 455 1 519 807  720 901 100,8 100,5 98,5 99,4 98,2 99,0
Persons in employment in crafts and trades and free lances2)  240 998  102 106  240 158  101 591 99,7 99,5 101,4 100,9 101,5 101,0
Employed insured persons – private farmers2)  17 321  5 295  17 259  5 277 99,6 99,7 95,2 93,6 97,8 95,9
Unemployed persons3)  62 064  33 510  63 196  34 132 101,8 101,9 83,7 83,2 85,3 84,9
Registered unemployment rate4), % 3,4 3,9 3,4 4,0                                       

1) The results of processing data from JOPPD forms. The data for July and August 2026 are provisional.
2) The data were taken over from the records of active insured persons kept at the Croatian Pension Insurance Institute.
3) The data were taken over from the Croatian Employment Service.
4) The registered unemployment rate is calculated as the ratio of unemployed persons to the total active population (labour force).

2 INDICES OF CHANGE IN NUMBER OF PERSONS IN PAID EMPLOYMENT IN LEGAL ENTITIES, ACCORDING TO NKD 20251) AND BY SEX, AUGUST 2026

       Number of persons in paid employment, August 20262) Indices
VIII 2026
VII 2026
VIII 2026
VIII 2025
I – VIII 2026
I – VIII 2025
Total Women Total Women Total Women Total Women
  Total 1 519 807  720 901 100,8 100,5 98,5 99,4 98,2 99,0
A Agriculture, forestry and fishing  24 688  6 853 100,6 100,3 95,2 94,8 94,9 95,2
B Mining and quarrying  3 854   506 103,8 101,6 102,5 105,0 99,2 103,2
C Manufacturing  223 052  74 937 100,6 100,3 95,9 95,6 95,3 94,8
D Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply  14 679  3 447 100,0 100,1 100,6 101,6 100,0 99,8
E Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities  27 647  6 102 99,9 99,6 98,8 99,7 98,9 99,2
F Construction  129 289  14 033 101,9 102,0 97,8 97,6 96,5 98,1
G Wholesale and retail trade  224 910  125 919 100,5 100,3 99,4 99,6 99,6 99,5
H Transportation and storage  85 037  19 264 100,3 100,0 96,6 97,4 96,6 97,2
I Accommodation and food service activities  120 185  60 575 104,3 104,1 99,4 99,0 98,1 97,7
J Publishing, broadcasting, and content production and distribution activities  9 959  4 915 100,4 100,0 94,3 95,0 93,9 94,4
K Telecommunication, computer programming, consulting, computing infrastructure and other information service activities  49 489  16 280 99,9 100,0 98,4 98,7 98,3 98,4
L Financial and insurance activities  35 615  24 261 99,7 99,7 99,2 99,0 99,3 99,0
M Real estate activities  12 471  6 116 101,7 102,5 99,0 101,0 98,2 100,8
N Professional, scientific and technical activities  72 560  36 731 100,2 100,2 97,3 97,8 96,1 97,1
O Administrative and support service activities  61 071  27 306 103,2 103,0 94,4 95,9 93,8 94,8
P Public administration and defence; compulsory social security  113 870  61 836 100,2 100,3 98,4 99,5 99,1 100,0
Q Education  132 413  106 319 97,8 97,8 103,2 102,6 102,9 102,4
R Human health and social work activities  117 227  91 264 101,3 101,4 102,3 102,0 101,8 101,6
S Arts, sports and recreation  30 878  16 876 100,1 99,8 98,9 98,3 99,4 99,1
T Other service activities  30 913  17 361 101,3 101,1 98,4 98,8 97,7 97,8

1) Activity sections U (Activities of households as employers; undifferentiated goods- and services-producing activities of households for own use) and V (Activities of extraterritorial organisations and bodies) as well as their divisions are not presented in this First Release since they were not covered by the survey.
2) Provisional data.

G-1 PERSONS IN PAID EMPLOYMENT IN LEGAL ENTITIES, AUGUST 2022 – AUGUST 2026

G-2 PERSONS IN PAID EMPLOYMENT, ACCORDING TO NKD 2025, AUGUST 2026

NKD 2025 activity sections
A Agriculture, forestry and fishing
B Mining and quarrying
C Manufacturing
D Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply
E Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities
F Construction
G Wholesale and retail trade
H Transportation and storage
I Accommodation and food service activities
J Publishing, broadcasting, and content production and distribution activities
K Telecommunication, computer programming, consulting, computing infrastructure and other information service activities
L Financial and insurance activities
M Real estate activities
N Professional, scientific and technical activities
O Administrative and support service activities
P Public administration and defence; compulsory social security
Q Education
R Human health and social work activities
S Arts, sports and recreation
T Other service activities


NOTES ON METHODOLOGY

Since January 2026, statistical data are observed, processed and presented according to the National Classification of Activities, 2025 version (NKD 2025). The classification entered into force on 1 January 2025 (NN, No. 47/24). Its content and structure are completely harmonised with the Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community (hereinafter referred to as: NACE Rev. 2.1). Its implementation ensures quality international comparability of statistical data.

In order to calculate the indices, the 2025 data were converted from NKD 2007 activities to NKD 2025 activities using the macro method of conversion.

The National Classification of Activities 2025 – NKD 2025 has a different structure compared to the NKD 2007 and a more detailed overview of the differences by sections between the new and the existing classification is described in the document Differences between NKD 2007 and NKD 2025.

Data sources

Data on persons in employment in legal entities were gathered by processing data from the Report on Income, Income Tax and Surtax as well as Contributions for Mandatory Insurances (JOPPD form), which has been in effect since 1 January 2014.

All persons or entities that are payers of income for which the income tax regulations prescribe the obligation of accounting and paying deduction tax are under the obligation to submit the JOPPD form.

Data on persons in employment in crafts and trades and free lances are processed according to the records on pension insurance beneficiaries obtained from the Croatian Pension Insurance Institute.

The Croatian Pension Insurance Institute provides data on employed insured persons − private farmers.

Data on the number of unemployed persons are obtained from the Croatian Employment Service.

Coverage and comparability

The survey on persons in paid employment in legal entities includes all persons who have signed a work contract, regardless of the type of work contract and whether they work full-time or less than full-time.

The survey on persons in crafts and trades and free lances includes owners and employees registered with the Croatian Pension Insurance Institute.

Definitions

Persons in paid employment are all persons who have signed a work contract with an employer for a fixed or an unspecified period of time, irrespective of the type of ownership and whether they work full-time or less than full-time.

Registered unemployment rate is calculated as a ratio of the number of unemployed persons to the total active population (labour force).

Abbreviations  
   
NKD 2007 National Classification of Activities, 2007 version
NKD 2025 National Classification of Activities, 2025 version

 

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