Labour market overview, situation as of 31 August 2023



The number of unemployed people registered with public employment services in Bosnia and Herzegovina on 31 August 2023 was 350 316. As compared to a month earlier, this number was lower by 145 persons or 0.04%. Out of the total number of job seekers, 205 634 or 58.70% were women. In comparison to the same period of the year earlier, unemployment in BiH was lower by 10 118 persons or 2.81%.

Unemployment decreased in Federation of BiH by 125 persons (0.05%) and in the Brčko District of BiH by 120 persons (0.92%), but increased in Republika Srpska by 100 persons (0.17%).

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

100 491 unskilled workers or 28.69%, of whom 59 914 (29.14%) women;

5 314 semi-skilled workers – lower educational background or 1.52%, of whom 2 747 (1.34%) women;

108 879 skilled workers or 31.08%, of whom 52 481 (25.52%) women;

928 highly skilled workers or 0.26%, of whom 195 (0.09%) women;

97 974 with secondary education or 27.97%, of whom 63 982 (31.11%) women;

5 842 with two-year post-secondary education or 1.67%, of whom 3 915 (1.90%) women;

30 888 with university degree or 8.82%, of whom 22 400 (10.89%) women.

A total of 19 249 people were deregistered from public employment services in August, of whom 9 200 were women. Out of this number, there were 7 407 flows into employment, of which 3 795 were women. 

At the same time employment terminated for 10 438 people, of whom 5 522 were women.  In the same period, employers reported 4 015 vacancies. 

According to BiH Agency for Statistics, the number of people in employment in BiH in July 2023 stood at 848 267, of whom 381 135 were women.  In comparison to June 2023, the number of people in employment was decreased by 0.3% and the number of employed women decreased by 0.4%.

Registered unemployment rate for July 2023 was 29.2% and was 0.2 percentage point higher than in June 2023.