Although the number of unemployed people in Bosnia and Herzegovina is slightly decreasing, this is mainly the result of emigration, not the creation of new jobs. Bh. citizens constitute a significant workforce in European countries. But the most worrying thing is that it is about young staff.
Skilled craftsmen, traders, cooks and waiters are still among the most sought-after professions in Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, it is increasingly difficult to reach them, because most of them struggle for existence outside the state.
“It is very difficult to find catering workers, older workers do not want to work in smaller catering facilities, they are looking for more serious facilities, young people who want to do it, go to neighboring countries to work, and they don’t want to work here,” says restaurateur Miljan Lale.
And in other countries they make up a significant workforce.
“Well, last year over 30 thousand of our people worked in Croatia and Serbia, as much as 30% of the total number of foreign workers were from BiH, very bad indicators for BiH and our labor market”, points out Mario Nenadić, Association of Employers of FBiH.
Which still remains burdened by a high unemployment rate, although there are certain changes. At the end of January, more than 316,000 unemployed people were registered, and a month later, 315,000. Of that, almost 190 thousand unemployed women. On an annual basis, the number of unemployed decreased by 8,660 persons, or 2.67%. According to economists, it is the result of departure, not employment.
“As in previous years, a good part of the reduction in unemployment is solely the result of emigration and deregistration from the bureau of records, and not actual hiring of new ones. On the contrary, we have a reduction in the number of employees in recent months and years for various reasons,” explains Igor Gavran, economic analyst.
It is even more worrying that, according to the Labor Force Survey, it is precisely those who are most able to work who are out of work.
“The largest number of unemployed is in the age group from 25 to 49, where about 110 thousand people were recorded in 2025, which makes up the largest share of total unemployment. They are followed by people aged 50 to 64 with about 35 thousand, and young people between 15 and 24 years old with about 28 thousand unemployed,” says Lejla Aganović, Statistics Agency.
Apparently, there are not enough new jobs for everyone. Analysts warn that the number of unemployed could be much higher, due to the problems occurring in the industrial sector, he reports Zenit.
