First Release

Year: LXIII.
Zagreb, 22 May 2026
RAD-2026-2-1/4

ISSN 1334-0557

PERSONS IN PAID EMPLOYMENT, BY ACTIVITIES, APRIL 2026

In April 2026, the total number of persons in employment in the Republic of Croatia was 1 702 293, out of which 794 495 were women. Compared to March 2026, the total number of persons in employment increased by 0.2% and the number of employed women by 0.5%. Compared to the same month of the previous year, the total number of persons in employment in April 2026 decreased by 1.9% and the number of employed women by 1.0%. In the period from January to April 2026, as compared to the same period of the previous year, the total number of persons in employment decreased by 1.5% and the number of employed women by 0.8%.

In April 2026, the total number of persons in paid employment in legal entities in the Republic of Croatia amounted to 1 465 514, out of which 697 177 were women. Compared to March 2026, the number of persons in paid employment in legal entities decreased by 0.2%, while the number of employed women increased by 0.1%. The number of persons in paid employment in legal entities in April 2026, as compared to the same month of the previous year, decreased by 2.5%, while the number of employed women decreased by 1.2%. In the period from January to April 2026, as compared to the same period of the previous year, the number of persons in paid employment in legal entities decreased by 1.9% and the number of employed women by 1.0%.

In April 2026, as compared to the previous month, the number of persons in employment in crafts and trades and free lances increased by 3.3%, and the number of employed women by 3.6%. The total number of employed insured persons – private farmers decreased by 0.3%, and the number of employed female farmers by 0.1%.

The total number of unemployed persons decreased by 11.1% and the number of unemployed women by 11.5% in April 2026, as compared to March 2026. The total registered unemployment rate in April 2026 was 3.8% and for women, it was 4.3%.

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

      III 2026 IV 2026 Indices
IV 2026
III 2026
IV 2026
IV 2025
I – IV 2026
I – IV 2025
Total Women Total Women Total Women Total Women Total Women
Active population (labour force) 1 774 188  830 805 1 769 814  830 178 99,8 99,9 97,4 98,2 97,9 98,5
Total persons in employment 1 698 257  790 480 1 702 293  794 495 100,2 100,5 98,1 99,0 98,5 99,2
Persons in paid employment in legal entities1) 1 468 415  696 339 1 465 514  697 177 99,8 100,1 97,5 98,8 98,1 99,0
Persons in employment in crafts and trades and free lances2)  212 223  88 774  219 221  91 957 103,3 103,6 101,4 101,2 101,4 101,0
Employed insured persons – private farmers2)  17 619  5 367  17 558  5 361 99,7 99,9 100,3 98,0 100,3 98,1
Unemployed persons3)  75 931  40 325  67 521  35 683 88,9 88,5 82,9 82,5 86,2 85,8
Registered unemployment rate4), % 4,3 4,9 3,8 4,3                                    

1) The results of processing data from JOPPD forms. The data for March and April 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, APRIL 2026

        Number of persons in paid employment,  April 20262) Indices
IV 2026
III 2026
IV 2026
IV 2025
I – IV 2026
I – IV 2025
Total Women Total Women Total Women Total Women
  Total 1 465 514  697 177 99,8 100,1 97,5 98,8 98,1 99,0
A Agriculture, forestry and fishing  24 196  6 783 100,8 101,2 94,9 95,5 94,7 95,1
B Mining and quarrying  3 750   489 99,3 98,6 97,8 101,2 98,6 102,7
C Manufacturing  222 125  74 605 99,2 99,5 94,8 94,4 95,2 94,7
D Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply  14 648  3 394 100,2 100,3 99,7 99,5 100,0 99,6
E Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities  26 767  5 900 98,6 98,5 97,1 97,6 99,0 99,2
F Construction  125 924  13 441 98,8 98,9 94,4 97,3 96,1 98,6
G Wholesale and retail trade  220 282  123 529 99,9 100,2 99,2 99,3 99,6 99,4
H Transportation and storage  82 768  18 675 99,6 101,0 95,8 97,1 96,7 96,9
I Accommodation and food service activities  85 247  43 423 104,5 104,8 96,7 96,5 96,8 96,4
J Publishing, broadcasting, and content production and distribution activities  10 223  5 048 100,6 101,2 93,4 94,4 92,8 93,2
K Telecommunication, computer programming, consulting, computing infrastructure and other information service activities  49 462  16 263 99,6 99,6 97,7 98,0 98,1 98,2
L Financial and insurance activities  35 751  24 369 100,1 100,1 99,4 99,0 99,3 98,9
M Real estate activities  11 722  5 625 99,3 100,2 96,5 99,8 97,6 101,0
N Professional, scientific and technical activities  71 642  36 213 98,6 98,9 94,4 95,9 95,5 96,7
O Administrative and support service activities  55 937  24 629 99,4 99,9 93,0 93,5 94,7 94,7
P Public administration and defence; compulsory social security  113 926  61 721 99,8 99,8 99,5 100,3 99,8 100,6
Q Education  136 596  109 929 100,2 100,1 103,3 102,8 103,1 102,7
R Human health and social work activities  116 057  90 461 99,7 99,6 101,9 101,6 102,1 101,9
S Arts, sports and recreation  29 580  16 324 99,4 99,4 98,5 98,1 99,6 99,5
T Other service activities  28 911  16 356 98,6 98,9 96,2 96,4 97,4 97,3

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, APRIL 2022 – APRIL 2026

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