Croatia Needs Foreign Professionals to Fill in These Jobs: Are You One of Them?

Croatia Facing Labour Shortages in Key Sectors

Croatia is currently experiencing labour shortages in several industries, including construction and building trades, automotive and transportation services, culinary arts and food production, and information technology and software development.

According to data published by the Croatian Employment Service (HZZ), the number of unemployed people in Croatia is currently 112,251. However, there are only 16,832 job vacancies available, as reported by SchengenVisaInfo.com.

Ineffective Labour Market Policies

The Croatian labour market policies, as outlined in a report by the European Commission, have been deemed ineffective in addressing the needs and shortages within the labour market. The report states that labour shortages in the final quarter of 2022 have surpassed pre-pandemic levels across all sectors and exceeded the European averages.

“There is a lack of alignment between active labour market policies and persistent shortages in the Croatian labour market. High levels of skills mismatches reflect low employment chances for medium-skilled and especially low-skilled workers.”

In-Demand Sectors in Croatia

According to EURES, the following sectors and professions are in high demand in Croatia:

• Construction and building trades: including construction workers, fitters, painters and decorators, roofers, plumbers, electricians, civil engineering workers, and more.
• Automotive and transportation services: truck drivers, semi-trailer truck drivers, car mechanics, car painters, and car bodyworkers.
• Culinary arts and food production: national cuisine chefs, butchers, bakers, and confectioners.
• Information technology and software development: software developers, user interface designers, and system administrators.

This indicates that foreigners with expertise in these professions have a higher chance of obtaining a Croatian visa. However, in order to obtain a Croatian Work Visa, foreigners must already have a job offer from a Croatian employer who will be responsible for obtaining a work permit on their behalf.

Prioritizing Croatian Labour

Before requesting a residence and work permit, employers in Croatia must first verify if there are opportunities to hire from the domestic labour market.

Salary Ranges in Croatia

According to MojaPlaca, the salary ranges in various sectors in Croatia are as follows:

• Construction and real estate: €740 (minimum salary) to €1,738 (highest average salary)
• Transport, haulage, and logistics: €653 to €1,347
• Agriculture and food industry: €632 to €1,277
• Technology and development: €843 to €3,018

For 2023, the estimated minimum monthly net wage in Croatia is about €560, while the median monthly net salary is estimated at €1,150.

Surplus of Qualified Individuals

On the other hand, individuals with qualifications in the following fields are facing challenges in securing employment due to an oversupply:

• Photographers
• Economists
• Business secretaries
• Administrative officers
• Graphic arts technicians
• Environmental technicians
• Fashion design technicians
• Tourism and hospitality operators

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