Labour market overview, situation as of 31 January 2020



The number of unemployed people registered with public employment services in Bosnia and Herzegovina on 31 January 2020 was 406 147. As compared to a month earlier, this number was higher by 4 321 persons or 1.08%. Out of the total number of job seekers, 230 865 or 56.84% were women. In comparison to the same period of the year earlier, unemployment in BiH was lower by 27 271 persons or 6.29%.

Unemployment decreased in the Brčko District of BiH by 35 persons (0.5%), whereas it increased in the Federation of BiH by 1 952 persons (0.63%) and in Republika Srpska by 2 404 persons (2.76%).

Job seekers by qualification levels, situation as of 31 January 2020:

111 835 unskilled workers or 27.53%, of whom 46 919 (26.76%) men and 64 916 (28.12%) women;

7 285 semi-skilled workers – lower educational background or 1.79%, of whom 3 645 (2.08%) men and 3 640 (1.58%) women;

128 524 skilled workers or 3.64%, of whom 68 847 (39.27%) men and 59 677 (25.85%) women;

1 611 highly skilled workers or 0.40%, of whom 1 340 (0.76%) men and 271 (0.12%) women;

114 952 with secondary education or 28.30%, of whom 41 682 (23.78%) men and 73 270 (31.74%) women;

6 755 with two-year post-secondary education or 1.66%, of whom 2 422 (1.38%) men and 4 333 (1.88%) women;

35 205 with university degree or 8.67%, of whom 10 447 (5.6%) men and 24 758 (10.72%) women.

A total of 14 541 people were deregistered from public employment services, of whom 7 261 were women. Out of this number, there were 8 197 flows into employment, of which 4 262 were women. 

At the same time employment terminated for 13 734 people, of whom 6 266 were women.  In the same period, employers reported 4 100 vacancies. 

According to BiH Agency for Statistics, the number of people in employment in BiH in December 2019 stood at 830 383, of whom 359 564 were women.  In comparison to November 2019, the number of people in employment fell by 0.1% and the number of employed women increased by 0.1%.

Registered unemployment rate for December 2019 was 32.6% remaining unchanged from November 2019.