# Western Balkans hiring gap deepens, job fair announced > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/public-sector-hiring-in-the-balkans > Updated: 2026-07-31T10:27:45.000Z. Sources: 35. Developments: 14. Public authorities in Croatia, Bosnia‑Herzegovina and Serbia continue to list dozens of vacancies while a disability‑fund programme created 334 jobs for people with disabilities. Bosnia‑Herzegovina broadened cash incentives for workers with at least 50 % impairment, allocating 20.3 million KM for new measures, even as firms such as Nova Natura and mining‑manufacturing plants in Olovo cut workforces by roughly a quarter, eliminating about 260 jobs. Regional labour markets remain strained. Of a 1.44 million labour force, roughly 850,000 are employed and unemployment stands at 11.1 %. More than 300,000 job‑seekers remain registered while vacancies in construction, welding, electricity, driving, cooking, craft trades and medical occupations stay largely unfilled. Out‑migration of experienced workers, a slow domestic education response, bureaucratic hurdles to hiring abroad, and a rise in informal “necessity jobs” paid 12‑20 KM per hour, especially in Herzegovina, intensify the gap. Serbia’s finance ministry retained tax‑exemptions for employers hiring people with disabilities for three more years and kept profit‑tax breaks for firms providing training and rehabilitation. In Bosnia‑Herzegovina’s Tuzla Canton, additional funding spurred a public call that generated 111 new craft projects and interest from 31 firms to employ about 150 veterans, with expectations of creating over 300 jobs this year. The Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Policy in Bosnia‑Herzegovina announced a national job fair, “Gledaj sebi posla,” scheduled for 3–4 September at the Hills Hotel in Sarajevo. Around 100 employers, cantonal employment services, the Federal Employment Agency, a rehabilitation fund for persons with disabilities, educational institutions and international organisations will meet the record 246,000 registered unemployed. Officials highlighted the paradox of abundant vacancies in deficit occupations while many listed job‑seekers are inactive, and called for a new Employment Mediation and Social Security Law to improve data targeting for training and re‑skilling programmes. ## Timeline ### 2026-07-31: Bosnia and Herzegovina launches job fair to match 100 employers with 246,000 unemployed Bosnia and Herzegovina's labour ministry unveiled the September 3‑4 job fair “Gledaj sebi posla,” targeting 100 employers and 246,000 unemployed amid a labour‑market paradox, and called for a new law to split ‑ 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bosnia-and-herzegovina-launches-job-fair-to-match-100-employers-with-246000-unemployed ### 2026-07-27: Serbia, Bosnia boost hiring incentives for disabled and veterans Serbia retains tax breaks for hiring disabled workers, while Bosnia's Tuzla Canton raises funds to employ war veterans, targeting hundreds of new jobs. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/serbia-bosnia-boost-hiring-incentives-for-disabled-and-veterans ### 2026-07-24: Bosnia and Herzegovina confronts acute skilled‑worker shortage Bosnia and Herzegovina faces a skilled‑worker shortage despite high unemployment, with many taking extra low‑pay side jobs to meet basic needs. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bosnia-and-herzegovina-confronts-acute-skilledworker-shortage ### 2026-07-21: Bosnia records record long‑term unemployment in Herzegovina and Prijedor regions Bosnia’s Hercegovačko‑Neretvanska county reports 6,662 people waiting over nine years for work, while Prijedor sees 4,429 unemployed, up after mine and factory closures. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bosnia-records-record-longterm-unemployment-in-herzegovina-and-prijedor-regions ### 2026-07-19: Požega Region and Mostar Announce Over 100 New Job Vacancies Over 100 jobs are open in Požega, Croatia, mainly in construction and transport, while HP Mostar advertises 11 postal and specialist positions across several Bosnian towns. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/poega-region-and-mostar-announce-over-100-new-job-vacancies ### 2026-07-17: Job cuts hit firms in Croatia and Bosnia, reducing hundreds of positions Croatian firms Nova Natura and Mesna industrija Natura cut staff by about 25 %, while Bosnian companies Alma Ras and Geomet eliminated over 250 jobs, hurting local development rankings. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/job-cuts-hit-firms-in-croatia-and-bosnia-reducing-hundreds-of-positions ### 2026-07-15: Bosnia's disability fund expands employment incentives to 50% impairment level Bosnia's disability employment fund adopted new rules allowing people with 50% impairment to receive cash hiring incentives and join professional rehab programmes, with 20.3 million KM in public calls planned. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bosnias-disability-fund-expands-employment-incentives-to-50-impairment-level ### 2026-07-08: Croatia and Bosnia record sharp unemployment drops amid mixed job market signals Croatia's unemployment fell to a record low of 59,423 and job ads dropped 6.6%, while Bosnia's unemployment fell below 306,000, with new jobs rising and women still making up 60% of the jobless. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/unemployment-falls-in-bosnia-and-herzegovina-as-croatias-job-ads-slip ### 2026-06-22: Bosnia and Herzegovina grapples with high unemployment, skill mismatch and stark wage gaps Bosnia and Herzegovina faces 300 k unemployed amid skill mismatches, sharp wage gaps (IT up to 2,399 KM) and a 16 % drop in job ads, while a fund creates 334 jobs for disabled workers and health‑sector demand 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bosnia-and-herzegovina-grapples-with-high-unemployment-and-employer-labor-shortages ### 2026-06-20: BNT factory and Croatian police announce dozens of new job openings BNT factory in Bosnia opens many 12‑month roles across engineering, production and administration, while Croatia's police seek permanent caretakers in Rijeka and Opatija. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bnt-factory-and-croatian-police-announce-dozens-of-new-job-openings ### 2026-06-19: Bosnia-Herzegovina employers warn of bureaucratic obstacles in public hiring programs Bosnia‑Herzegovina employers say public hiring programmes are hampered by bureaucracy, poor data and digital flaws, urging simplification and modernisation. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bosnia-herzegovina-employers-warn-of-bureaucratic-obstacles-in-public-hiring-programs ### 2026-06-17: Bajina Bašta (Serbia) and Pregrada (Croatia) Publish Public Job Competitions Serbia's Bajina Bašta and Croatia's Pregrada announce public competitions for local government jobs, detailing duties, qualifications and application requirements. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bajina-bata-serbia-and-pregrada-croatia-publish-public-job-competitions ### 2026-06-09: Bosnia’s pension authority posts eight Travnik jobs as employment agency draws audit criticism over costly retired tutor Bosnia’s pension fund announced eight permanent jobs in Travnik, while the labor agency faced audit criticism for paying a retired worker 7,200 KM to train new staff. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bosnias-pension-authority-posts-eight-travnik-jobs-as-employment-agency-draws-audit-criticism-over-c ### 2026-06-08: Public‑Sector Job Openings Announced in Croatia and Bosnia Croatia’s Financial Agency and Bosnia’s JP BH Pošta announced temporary and permanent public‑sector jobs, offering various roles, benefits and hiring priority for war veterans. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/publicsector-job-openings-announced-in-croatia-and-bosnia --- Cite as: Western Balkans hiring gap deepens, job fair announced. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/public-sector-hiring-in-the-balkans