July 2, 2025
The OVI index recorded a drop for the sixth month in a row, but at a somewhat lower rate compared to the previous month, -8.1 percent on an annual level compared to -13.4 percent recorded in May. However, seasonally adjusted data point to a growth in the index value month-on-month, because OVI has increased by 6.2 percent since May, which is the largest monthly growth rate since May 2022. Cumulatively, the decline since the end of last year amounts to -7.3 percent, and when observed by quarters, the second quarter is lower by -1.6 percent compared to the first quarter, because the seasonally adjusted values in April and May were negative. Although these data indicate a further drop in activity in the second quarter as well, it is somewhat smaller than in the first three months, when it amounted to -5.6 percent.
The five most sought-after occupations have remained the same in the last year. Salesperson has remained the most sought-after occupation, followed by cook and waiter, which switched places, while warehouse worker and driver took fourth and fifth place. The biggest positive contribution to the index growth rate in June came from job advertisements for civil engineers and construction workers, while the biggest negative contribution came from advertisements for salespersons, warehouse workers, waiters, and hotel/hospitality staff, whose demand collectively fell by -19.0 percent over the year. Telecommunications staff had the biggest decline among the most sought-after occupations, falling by five places, from the 20th to the 24th place. The largest increase among the most sought-after occupations was recorded by civil engineers, who climbed the list by six places, from the 15th to the 9th place.
The share of job advertisements requiring secondary level education continued its decline trend in June, decreasing by -2.5 percentage points, while the shares of advertisements requiring low or high levels of education rose by 0.5 and 2.0 percentage points, respectively. At the same time, the biggest negative contribution to the total number of job advertisements came from job advertisements requiring secondary level education, with as much as -7.0 percentage points. A decrease in demand for seasonal workers is visible through a further increase in the share of job advertisements offering permanent employment, which amounted to 56.7 percent in June. All regions recorded a decrease in the number of job advertisements, with the biggest decrease in the southern Adriatic (-18.0 percent) and the smallest decrease in central Croatia (-4.2 percent). The occupations with the largest negative contribution to the index decline rate in central Croatia were waiter, cook, warehouse worker, IT worker, and telecommunications staff, while the biggest positive contribution came from advertisements for civil engineers, economists, bookkeepers, and construction workers.