THIS COUNTRY IN THE REGION LACKS 65,000 WORKERS

Croatia is facing a shortage of seasonal workers, which is why employers are starting their recruitment earlier every year. It is estimated that around 65,000 workers will be needed this season.

Alen Mrvac, PR specialist at Alma Career Croatia / MojPosao, says that the key part of hiring takes place at the beginning of the year.

“Recruitment is mostly focused on January and February. By the end of February, many employers already have most of their staff in place. Other positions are filled only if necessary, with emergency solutions sought in April or May,” Mrvac explained.

Foreign seasonal workers have been sought since last October in order to secure work permits on time, Croatian broadcaster HRT reports.

Bernard Zenzerović, director of the Association of Employers in Hospitality, says the demand for workers is huge and estimates that about 65,000 employees are missing for the season.

“We try to meet as much of that demand as possible on the domestic market. However, that is not fully achievable, so we expect around 15,000 seasonal workers from Croatia and a number of foreign workers at last year’s level — about 50,000,” Zenzerović said.

According to a survey by the portal MojPosao, domestic workers are more likely to take seasonal jobs if salaries are on average 30 to 40 percent higher than for the same positions in continental areas. The most sought-after profiles are chefs, waiters, pastry chefs, housekeepers, receptionists, animators, and sales staff.

Mrvac also stresses that employers are looking for quality staff.

“They want highly qualified workers with strong experience who bring added value and raise the level of business. Such workers are rare and must be well paid. The criteria are slightly lower than in previous years, which can be seen in job ads. Where five years of experience used to be required, now three years is enough,” he pointed out.

Zenzerović also warned about rising labor costs.

“From 2019 until today, labor costs, or wages in hospitality, have increased by about 75 percent, while revenues have grown by around 58 percent. Employers also invest a lot in working conditions, accommodation quality, and training,” he said.

Although they are aware that foreign labor is necessary, employers are also trying to engage retirees, pupils, students, and the unemployed.