Bosnia and Herzegovina grapples with high unemployment, skill mismatch and stark wage gaps

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s labour market is characterised by a paradox of roughly 300,000 registered job‑seekers while employers struggle to find suitably skilled workers. Experts attribute the gap to a mismatch between workers’ qualifications and the needs of modern employers, calling for better alignment of education and market demand.

Wage data released by the national statistics agency show the IT sector leading with an average net salary of 2,399 KM, more than double the lowest‑paid hospitality workers at 1,157 KM. Finance, public administration and energy‑production sectors also rank well above the national average of 1,684 KM, while construction, manufacturing and retail remain below it.

A government‑funded programme for people with disabilities has created 334 new jobs, backed by over 15 million KM in support, which is expected to inject roughly 570 000 KM per month into affected households. Meanwhile, job‑advertising platforms report a 16 % drop in listings for the first five months of 2026, with the sales sector still accounting for nearly half of all openings. The health sector stands out for a 58 % rise in vacancies, reflecting growing demand for medical staff.

Overall, the data underline persistent structural challenges in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s employment landscape, highlighting the need for policy measures that address both skill alignment and sector‑specific labour shortages.