Croatia sees surge in self‑employed firms and gig‑workers

The number of registered sole‑proprietorships (obrt) in Croatia has risen dramatically, reaching 133,640 at the end of 2023 – an 8.6% increase over the previous year and 46.9% higher than at the end of 2020. The growth is concentrated in service‑oriented trades, hospitality and tourism, reflecting a broader shift toward “gig‑economy” work.

In December 2024, 62.5% of entrepreneurs were taxed under the flat‑rate scheme, amounting to 77,332 individuals – a 14.9% rise from December 2023 and an 88.5% jump since December 2019. According to the State Statistics Office, employment in crafts and liberal professions rose 1.1% in March 2024 to 212,223 people (194,867 in crafts, 17,356 in liberal professions). Gains were recorded in 17 activity categories, with the strongest increase (7.6%) in mining, while employment fell in real‑estate services and water‑waste management. The rise was observed in 20 counties, ranging from 0.1% to 2.4% growth.