Alarm bells for employers as 90% of Croatian workers ready to change jobs

(Photo: Florian Plag/CC BY 2.0)

A recent report has sounded the alarm for employers in Croatia, revealing that a staggering 90% of workers are open to changing jobs within the next six months.

The main drivers? As RTL Danas reports, low pay, lack of professional development opportunities, and poor relationships with management.

While some remain loyal due to good colleagues and fair superiors, many say they would leave at the first sign of a better offer.

“If I were happy at work, I’d think twice. But if not, I’d take any other opportunity that came along,” said Anej from Ljubljana.

Low Pay a Major Issue

Only 20% of workers in Croatia are satisfied with their current salaries. Many believe their pay doesn’t reflect the demands of their roles.

“I stay mostly because of the colleagues who’ve become friends and the manager from Zadar – he truly recognises our efforts and rewards us,” said Mateo, a waiter.

Unfortunately, such managers are rare. According to a survey by employment portal MojPosao, 65% of workers feel underpaid for the work they do.

“The key issues are salary, relationships with supervisors, and a lack of training, career growth, and promotional opportunities,” Alen Mrvac, PR specialist at MojPosao, explained to RTL Danas.

Women Disproportionately Affected

Women appear to bear the brunt of workplace dissatisfaction. Many cite missed opportunities for advancement due to maternity leave and caregiving roles.

“One of the big problems is that women are the cornerstone of the household. Years pass while raising children and meanwhile, male colleagues move ahead,” said Ivana from Zagreb.

“I’m not a feminist, I’m a realist. I don’t think men do anything better than women,” added Marija from Switzerland.

Statistics back this up. On average, women in Croatia earn about 15% less than their male counterparts. Men tend to ask for larger pay increases – 20 to 30% – while women typically request only 10 to 15%.

Falsifying CVs: A Worrying Trend

It’s not just workers facing challenges – employers are struggling too. One in seven job seekers admits to lying on their CV.

“It’s normal to tweak things a bit. If you worked somewhere for a year, say it was two. Everyone does it,” said Nataša from Zagreb.

This embellishment creates problems on the ground. One café manager in Maksimir shared his frustration: “People often exaggerate their experience. They claim to have worked in busy cafés, but once they start, it’s clear they can’t cope.”

Honesty Still Valued

Despite the trend, many job seekers still believe in honesty.

“If I were going for an interview, I’d say it how it is. That’s just who I am,” said Anej.

“You can tell a lot from someone’s communication and attitude during the interview,” added Chiara from Zagreb.

Karlo, also from Zagreb, agreed: “I think I can charm them without lying, so better to be honest.”

After all, performance always reveals the truth – sooner rather than later.