Labour market overview, situation as of 31 May 2023



The number of unemployed people registered with public employment services in Bosnia and Herzegovina on 31 May 2023 was 344 952. As compared to a month earlier, this number was lower by 4 458 persons or 1.28%. Out of the total number of job seekers, 201 568 or 58.43% were women. In comparison to the same period of the year earlier, unemployment in BiH was lower by 15 559 persons or 4.32%.

Unemployment decreased in Federation of BiH by 4 081 persons (1.46%), in Republika Srpska by 1 008 persons (1.64%) but increase in the Brčko District of BiH by 631 persons (7.21%).

Job seekers by qualification levels, situation as of 31 May 2023:

99 448 unskilled workers or 28.83%, of whom 59 168 (29.16%) women;

5 377 semi-skilled workers – lower educational background or 1.56%, of whom 2 788 (1.37%) women;

108 373 skilled workers or 31.42%, of whom 52 295 (25.94%) women;

952 highly skilled workers or 0.28%, of whom 193 (0.10%) women;

97 058 with secondary education or 28.14%, of whom 63 457 (31.48%) women;

5 540 with two-year post-secondary education or 1.61%, of whom 3 660 (1.82%) women;

28 204 with university degree or 8.18%, of whom 20 007 (9.93%) women.

A total of 21 258 people were deregistered from public employment services in May, of whom 9 882 were women. Out of this number, there were 8 393 flows into employment, of which 4 182 were women. 

At the same time employment terminated for 8 051 people, of whom 3 992 were women.  In the same period, employers reported 3 116 vacancies. 

According to BiH Agency for Statistics, the number of people in employment in BiH in April 2023 stood at 854 005, of whom 385 442 were women.  In comparison to March 2023, the number of people in employment was increased by 0.2% and the number of employed women increased by 0.3%.

Registered unemployment rate for April 2023 was 29.0% and was 0.3 percentage point lower than in March 2023.