A total of 19 per cent of foreign workers want to stay in Croatia for the rest of their lives, a recent survey on foreign workers in Croatia revealed.
The results of the survey, introduced by Dr. Iva Tadić from the Institute for Migration Research, revealed that the main reason for heading to Croatia is economic, Schengen.News reports.
The same revealed that nearly 90 per cent of respondents said that they financially support their family in their countries of origin.
When asked for future plans, a total of 32 per cent of respondents said they intend to stay in Croatia for more than five years, 23 per cent between six and ten years, and 20 per cent plan to stay there until retirement.
The survey also revealed that a total of 55 per cent of participants plan to move their family to Croatia.
Survey of About 400 Foreign Workers Reveals Increasing Asian & African Workforce
The first major survey with numbers on international workers from Asia and Africa in Croatia was introduced on May 22, at the conference held by the Croatian Employers’ Association and the Migration Research Institute called “Migration, Labor Market and Integration: Croatia Tomorrow”.
The survey was conducted between December 2024 and January 2025. It included a total of 400 foreign workers, the majority of them from the following countries:
- Philippines (38 per cent)
- Nepal (26 per cent)
- India (20 per cent)
By employment sector, the majority of participants work in the following fields:
- Transportation (22 per cent)
- Hospitality (19 per cent)
- Construction (17 per cent)
Croatia Should Continue Its Work to Better Integrate Foreign Workers
The participants of the conference were welcomed by the Vice President of the Croatian Employers’ Association (HUP), Sadmir Hošić, and the Director of the Institute for Migration Research, Marina Perić Kaselj.
Croatia has recently experienced various changes, and this phenomenon of the arrival of a large number of foreign workers from distant countries has a great impact on our environment.
The country has already made some strides in the integration processes, we must continue to work together – not only as entrepreneurs but as society as a whole in order to enable both foreign and domestic workers to integrate better into the labour market.
70% Decline in Foreign Work Permit Applications
The figures from Croatia’s Ministry of Interior revealed that at present, Croatia is home to nearly 136,000 foreign workers. The significant decline comes from the country’s decision to tighten rules for foreign work permits, announced in March this year.
Local media reports revealed that a total of 70 per cent decrease was registered in the number of work permits submitted in Croatia by international workers up to this point.
The statistics from Croatia’s Ministry of Interior also revealed that up to this point, nearly 7,000 fewer requests were submitted, compared to the same period in 2024.