CROATIAN EMPLOYERS ALREADY HUNTING FOR WORKERS FROM BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

As the summer season wraps up, Croatian hospitality companies are already seeking cooks, waiters, and bartenders from Bosnia and Herzegovina — while the regional job market faces a paradox of worker shortages and slowing demand.

Hospitality sector starts recruiting early

Although the summer season has just ended, Croatian employers are actively hiring workers from BiH for the 2026 season. Online job ads show rising demand not only in tourism but also in retail and services.

Regional job fair highlights market paradox

The 16th Regional Online Job Fair, organized with platforms like MojPosao.ba, features over 700 job listings from around 100 employers across the region.

However, it also reveals a deeper issue — the regional labor market is struggling with a shortage of workers in some sectors and declining job creation in others.

Marketing manager Amila Jažić explained that through virtual employer booths, jobseekers can explore company profiles and apply for multiple positions simultaneously.

“First interviews can even be held via chat or video call, making the process faster and simpler,” she said.

Industrial slowdown hits employment

Zoran Škrebić, president of the Employers’ Union of Republika Srpska, said the number of new job openings has dropped sharply over the past year.

“The crisis that began in Germany and spread across the EU has seriously affected our economy, especially in the manufacturing sector,” he noted.

Since late 2023, about 4,000 jobs have been lost in Bosnia’s processing industries — particularly wood, textile, and footwear manufacturing.

Croatian offers lure BiH workers

Most job ads at the fair come from Croatian tourism companies already recruiting for next summer.

They are offering positions such as maids, waiters, bartenders, cooks, gardeners, and wellness therapists, along with free accommodation and salaries up to €2,000 per month.

Dalibor Šajić, president of the “Horeka” association, said it is difficult for local employers to compete.

“In Croatia, salaries and working conditions are much better. Some employers even pay seasonal staff year-round to retain them,” he said.

He added that while the Federation of BiH already employs workers from Bangladesh, India, and Nepal, such cases remain rare in Republika Srpska.

Tourism as a path forward

Despite these challenges, Šajić believes that Republika Srpska could still build a strong tourism brand with the right approach.

“Even without the sea, we could become a serious tourist destination if we invest strategically — from spa and rafting to rural tourism. Every euro that comes from abroad strengthens our economy,” he concluded.