In addition to administrative sources, labour market data are also collected through the Labour Force Survey (LFS). The aim of this survey is to gather data on employed, unemployed and inactive persons (e.g. pensioners, students and housewives) and on their demographic, educational, socioeconomic and other characteristics. The results of the Labour Force Survey are used to create and monitor employment policies and goals, conduct scientific analyses and inform the public about the state of the Croatian labour market and current trends.

The working-age population comprises the active and inactive population aged 15 years and over, while the active population comprises employed and unemployed persons. In 2025, as compared to 2024, there was an increase in the active population (of 16 thousand or 0.9%) as well as an increase in the inactive population (of three thousand or 0.2%).

The activity rate represents the active population as a percentage of the working-age population, while the employment rate represents employed persons as a percentage of the working-age population. In 2025, the activity rate increased by 0.2 percentage points, as did the employment rate, while the unemployment rate, which represents unemployed persons as a percentage of the active population, decreased by 0.1 percentage points compared to 2024.

The number of employed persons in 2025, as compared to 2024, increased by 19 thousand or 1.1%, while the number of unemployed persons decreased by two thousand or 2.7%.

Employees had the highest share in the total number of employed persons (86.9%), followed by self-employed persons with a share of 12.5%, while unpaid family members had the lowest share (0.6%).

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