At the recent EDUkarijera – Education to the Professions of the Future conference hosted by the Croatian Chamber of Economy, experts highlighted an impending labor shortage that could leave Croatia short of 450,000 to 500,000 foreign workers by 2030. Given the country’s low natural population increase, this gap poses a serious risk to economic growth and could lead to the formation of parallel societies if not addressed.
Key voices at the conference, including HGK president's advisor Petar Mišević and the vice-chancellor of the University of the North, emphasized that Croatian educational programs must be overhauled to better align with labor market needs. They urged the state to develop new policies not only for training domestic workers but also for integrating foreign labor, particularly as the current workforce is increasingly supplemented by migrants from Southeast Europe and Asia.
Mišević stressed that effective integration would require broad cooperation among employers, state institutions, local governments, and self-government bodies. The call for a strategic and coordinated approach comes as Croatia braces for long-term demographic challenges, with officials warning that there is no room for improvisation if the country is to secure the talent needed to drive its future economy.
As Croatia looks ahead, the focus will be on crafting policies that attract and integrate the necessary skilled workers to sustain economic growth and ensure social cohesion, a move seen as essential in a rapidly globalizing labor market.
