Croatia Jobless Rate Hits 10-Month High

Croatia’s registered unemployment rate rose to 4.9% in January 2026 from 4.6% in the previous month, marking the highest level since March 2025. The number of unemployed persons surged by 6.4% month-on-month to a ten-month high of 87.9 thousand. At the same time, total employment declined by 0.8% to 1.70 million, while the labor force edged down by 0.5% to 1.79 million. Paid employment in legal entities fell by 0.7%, mainly due to declines in accommodation and food service activities (-11%), wholesale and retail trade (-2.5%), electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply (-1%), and agriculture, forestry and fishing (-0.9%). In contrast, employment increased in financial and insurance activities (1.3%), mining and quarrying (0.6%), construction (0.3%), and electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply (1%). For comparison, the unemployment rate in January of the previous year was higher at 5.4%.