Through programs of co-financing of employment and self-employment, the Federal Employment Agency has been achieving good results for years, which make a significant contribution to improving the situation on the labor market, and this year, the Federal Employment Agency secured more than 111 million KM for the implementation of measures of active employment policies.
Director Helena Lončar in an interview for Večernji list she confirmed that there are eight programs in question, where the greatest focus will be on those activities that encourage the creation of new jobs, whether it is about employers or starting their own businesses.
Of course, the content and objectives of active employment policy measures are the result of an analytical approach and deliberation based on feedback that the Federal Employment Agency receives from the labor market, and in this context, the surveys that the Federal Employment Agency, in cooperation with the cantonal employment services, regularly conducts among employers are extremely important.
This month, the Federal Employment Agency plans to publish a call for proposals for the implementation of two key programs from the set of active employment policy measures for 2026 – the Employment Co-financing Program 2026 and the Self-Employment Co-financing Program “Startup 2026”.
The co-financing program for employment in 2026 is aimed at encouraging the employment of unemployed persons from the records of employment services in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina through financial support to employers. The program is implemented so that the Federal Institute co-finances part of the salary costs of employed persons in a certain period, which makes it easier for employers to hire new workers and create new jobs. A special focus is placed on the employment of young people without work experience, women, long-term unemployed persons, persons over 40 years of age, as well as other more difficult to employ categories. The aim of the program is to increase employment, prevent long-term unemployment and strengthen the competitiveness of unemployed persons on the labor market.
“Startup 2026.”
Self-employment co-financing program “Startup 2026.” it is intended for unemployed people who want to start their own business. Through this program, the Federal Institute provides financial support for the start-up and sustainability of self-employment, which encourages the development of entrepreneurship and the creation of new jobs. The program is especially aimed at young people, women and other categories of unemployed people who want to start their own business venture, and funds are allocated for starting various activities in accordance with current regulations. Application for public calls for both programs will be made through the online platform of the Federal Employment Agency, which ensures a transparent, efficient and simple application process. It is expected that the implementation of these programs in 2026 will make a significant contribution to the increase in employment, the development of entrepreneurship and the activation of unemployed persons on the labor market in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In 2026, for the implementation of measures of active employment policies, the Federal Employment Agency secured more than 111 million KM, which will be realized through a total of eight programs aimed at employment, self-employment and improving the employability of unemployed persons from the records of employment services in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The largest part of the funds is planned for the implementation of co-financing programs for employment and self-employment, which represent key instruments for supporting employment with employers and starting one’s own business.
In addition, a significant segment of the measures refers to training, professional training and development programs, the aim of which is to strengthen the competencies and skills of unemployed persons in accordance with the needs of the labor market and to facilitate their easier and faster inclusion in the world of work. Of particular note is the Training and work program with a well-known employer, which connects the training process with concrete employment with the employer.
An opportunity for more than 10,000 unemployed
According to the financial plan of the Federal Employment Agency for the year 2026, the planned funds for the implementation of measures of active employment policies will enable a significant coverage of unemployed persons from the records of employment services in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Within the planned eight programs of active employment policies, it is expected that more than 10,000 unemployed persons will get the opportunity for employment, start their own business or improve their competences through various employment, self-employment and training programs. As in previous years, the special focus of the measures will be aimed at young people, women, the long-term unemployed and other difficult-to-employ categories, thereby striving to further improve their competitiveness on the labor market and increase opportunities for employment.
The results achieved in previous years indicate that the measures of active employment policies implemented by the Federal Employment Agency make a significant contribution to the improvement of the situation on the labor market, and in this sense we can be satisfied with the results achieved.
Employment, self-employment and training programs continuously enable a large number of unemployed people to gain work experience, develop additional competencies or start their own business venture, which directly contributes to increasing employability and integration into the labor market.
In 2025, slightly more than 101 million KM was available for the implementation of measures of active employment policies, whereby more than 98% of the planned funds were contracted, and almost 11,000 unemployed persons were covered through the realized programs. These data confirm the high degree of realization of the planned activities, but also the great interest of employers and unemployed persons in the Institute’s programs.
Surveys among employers have a very significant role in the creation and adjustment of active employment policy measures because they enable support programs to be based on the real needs of the labor market.
The Federal Employment Office, in cooperation with the cantonal employment services, regularly conducts surveys among employers in order to identify employment trends, deficit occupations and the need for additional workforce competencies.
According to the latest survey, in which 1299 employers in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina participated, 63.3% of them expressed the need to hire new workers in 2026, with a total estimated demand of more than 6000 workers. Although the number of employers who plan to hire has slightly decreased compared to the previous survey, the total number of required workers has increased by about 7.4%, which indicates an increase in the needs of those employers who plan to expand their business.
Observed by sector, the highest demand for workers was recorded in industrial activities, which make up about 41% of the total estimated demand, followed by trade (about 20%), service activities (28%) and construction (about 10%). The demand in the processing industry is particularly pronounced, which alone accounts for about 39% of the total estimated need for workers.
The analysis also shows a very clear structure of required qualifications. Employers are mostly looking for workers with a secondary vocational education, that is, KV workers (about 66.6%), and workers with a secondary vocational education of the IV degree (about 20.7%), while the demand for highly educated personnel is significantly lower. This additionally confirms the need to strengthen the system of professional training and practical training so that unemployed people can more easily join the sectors where there is the greatest demand for labor.
When it comes to occupations, salespeople, tailors, truck drivers, waiters, locksmiths, auxiliary workers in production, warehouse workers, cooks and welders are among the most sought after in 2026, which clearly points to the needs of the real sector and service industries.
It is precisely these research findings that directly affect the design of the program of the Federal Employment Agency. Based on them, co-financing programs for employment and self-employment are additionally developed. Based on labor market research, the Institute has prepared a Labor Market Training program for 2026, focused on the most sought-after occupations and sectors with the highest demand for workers, which directly strengthens the effectiveness of training and contributes to the stability of the labor market in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
