First Release

Year: LXIII.
Zagreb, 20 March 2026
RAD-2026-2-1/2

ISSN 1334-0557

PERSONS IN PAID EMPLOYMENT, BY ACTIVITIES, FEBRUARY 2026

In February 2026, the total number of persons in employment in the Republic of Croatia was 1 693 935, out of which 788 948 were women. Compared to January 2026, the total number of persons in employment decreased 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 February 2026 remained at the same level and the number of employed women increased by 0.4%. In the period from January to February 2026, as compared to the same period of the previous year, the total number of persons in employment increased by 0.3% and the number of employed women by 0.5%.

In February 2026, the total number of persons in paid employment in legal entities in the Republic of Croatia amounted to 1 466 239, out of which 695 668 were women. Compared to January 2026, the number of persons in paid employment in legal entities decreased by 0.7% and the number of employed women by 0.5%. The number of persons in paid employment in legal entities in February 2026, as compared to the same month of the previous year, decreased by 0.2%, while the number of employed women increased by 0.3%. In the period from January to February 2026, as compared to the same period of the previous year, the number of persons in paid employment in legal entities increased by 0.1% and the number of employed women by 0.4%.

In February 2026, as compared to the previous month, the number of persons in employment in crafts and trades and free lances increased by 0.2% and the number of employed women by 0.1%. The total number of employed insured persons – private farmers decreased by 0.7% and the number of employed female farmers by 0.8%.

The total number of unemployed persons decreased by 4.5% and the number of unemployed women by 4.2% in February 2026, as compared to January 2026. The total registered unemployment rate in February 2026 was 4.7% and for women, it was 5.3%.

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

       I 2026 II 2026 Indices
II 2026
I 2026
II 2026
II 2025
I – II 2026
I – II 2025
Total Women Total Women Total Women Total Women Total Women
Active population (labour force) 1 791 778  838 674 1 777 927  833 380 99,2 99,4 99,3 99,5 99,7 99,7
Total persons in employment 1 703 843  792 300 1 693 935  788 948 99,4 99,6 100,0 100,4 100,3 100,5
Persons in paid employment in legal entities1) 1 476 487  699 055 1 466 239  695 668 99,3 99,5 99,8 100,3 100,1 100,4
Persons in employment in crafts and trades and free lances2)  209 554  87 805  210 010  87 884 100,2 100,1 101,4 100,9 101,5 101,0
Employed insured persons – private farmers2)  17 802  5 440  17 686  5 396 99,3 99,2 100,3 98,1 100,4 98,4
Unemployed persons3)  87 935  46 374  83 992  44 432 95,5 95,8 87,2 86,7 88,8 88,2
Registered unemployment rate4), % 4,9 5,5 4,7 5,3                                      

1) The results of processing data from JOPPD forms. The data for January and February 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, FEBRUARY 2026

      Number of persons in paid employment, February 20262) Indices
II 2026
I 2026
II 2026
II 2025
I – II 2026
I – II 2025
Total Women Total Women Total Women Total Women
  Total 1 466 239  695 668 99,3 99,5 99,8 100,3 100,1 100,4
A Agriculture, forestry and fishing  24 131  6 762 98,2 98,5 96,1 97,2 96,7 97,5
B Mining and quarrying  3 745   489 97,9 98,2 97,6 102,3 99,9 104,3
C Manufacturing  223 135  74 902 99,6 99,4 96,6 95,9 96,5 95,7
D Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply  14 643  3 386 99,3 99,2 100,4 99,9 100,6 100,0
E Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities  27 321  5 996 99,1 99,2 100,4 100,0 100,9 100,7
F Construction  126 613  13 485 98,9 99,3 99,7 102,6 101,1 103,7
G Wholesale and retail trade  220 434  123 396 99,5 99,6 101,1 100,7 101,2 100,8
H Transportation and storage  83 023  18 470 98,9 99,3 98,9 98,2 99,9 98,5
I Accommodation and food service activities  82 699  42 046 94,5 93,9 99,6 98,7 100,7 99,9
J Publishing, broadcasting, and content production and distribution activities  10 212  5 010 99,6 99,5 93,8 94,0 94,0 94,2
K Telecommunication, computer programming, consulting, computing infrastructure and other information service activities  49 749  16 315 99,6 99,8 99,0 99,0 99,7 99,5
L Financial and insurance activities  35 633  24 273 99,6 99,5 99,4 98,9 99,5 99,0
M Real estate activities  11 792  5 651 100,1 100,5 101,0 104,7 101,4 105,5
N Professional, scientific and technical activities  72 103  36 341 99,4 99,5 98,2 99,6 98,6 99,9
O Administrative and support service activities  56 434  24 770 98,8 98,8 98,2 97,7 98,1 97,5
P Public administration and defence; compulsory social security  113 964  61 665 99,1 99,5 100,1 100,9 100,2 101,0
Q Education  135 594  109 299 101,2 101,1 103,6 103,2 103,4 103,1
R Human health and social work activities  116 035  90 494 100,8 100,8 102,9 102,8 102,7 102,5
S Arts, sports and recreation  29 807  16 489 99,2 98,9 101,1 100,8 101,5 101,3
T Other service activities  29 172  16 429 99,7 99,4 101,8 101,3 101,7 101,4

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, FEBRUARY 2022 – FEBRUARY 2026

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