Croatia faces nationwide shortage of skilled craftsmen

Croatia is experiencing a chronic deficit of qualified craftsmen in virtually every trade and in all counties. Representatives of the Croatian Chamber of Crafts and the Croatian Employment Service warn that occupations such as roofers, façade specialists, electricians, auto‑mechanics, bakers, butchers and confectioners have become scarce across the country.

The shortage is most acute in construction, automotive services and parts of the food‑processing industry, leading to longer waiting times for services, higher prices for consumers and increased workload for existing artisans. As Dalibor Kratohvil, president of the Chamber, said, “The lack of qualified workers today is one of the biggest challenges for the further development of Croatian craftsmanship.” The influx of foreign workers has not alleviated the structural labour gap, and many positions remain vacant for months.