First study on foreign workers in Croatia published 

Less than 20% plan to remain in Croatia

ZAGREB, 15 January 2025 (Hina) – The first study conducted by the Institute for Migration Research, published on Tuesday, reveals that most foreign workers from Asia are either satisfied or mostly satisfied with life and work in Croatia.

Additionally, 90% of them financially support their families in their countries of origin. Notably, the majority, nearly 33%, plan to stay in Croatia for up to five years, while only 19.5% intend to remain permanently.

The Institute conducted the survey between 23 November 2024 and 12 January 2025, covering 400 foreign workers from Asia and Africa to gain insight into their experiences living and working in Croatia.

The largest group of respondents hailed from the Philippines (38%), followed by Nepal (26%), India (20%), Egypt (6%), and Bangladesh (5%). Others included individuals from Syria, Iraq, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, China, and Uganda.

“This initial research provides us with valuable insights and experience in studying the foreign worker population from Asia and Africa. In the future, we will undertake more comprehensive studies of this kind to support better policymaking for the successful integration of foreign workers into Croatian society,” stated the director of the Institute, Marina Perić Kaselj.

Most Work in Hospitality and Industry

A significant proportion of surveyed foreign workers are employed in transport (22%), hospitality (19%), construction (17%), and industry (13%).

In terms of language proficiency, 53% stated they do not speak Croatian but understand basic words, 21% reported speaking Croatian at a basic level, 18% said they do not speak Croatian at all, and 8% claimed fluency.

Regarding educational backgrounds, 50% of participants reported having completed secondary education, 35% had undergraduate degrees, and 6% had only primary education. Religiously, 36% identified as Roman Catholic, 15% as Sunni Muslim, and 3% as Hindu, with others practising various forms of Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, Kirant, Sikhism, or identifying as non-religious.

Zagreb

Financial Support for Families Abroad

Over half (51%) of the respondents have been in Croatia for less than a year, 34% for one to two years, 5% for three to five years, and 9.5% for over five years.

Almost 90% of foreign workers financially support their families in their home countries. Moreover, 55% plan to relocate their families to Croatia, while 28% remain undecided. Meanwhile, 10% do not intend to bring their families, and 5% reported having no family.

The majority of foreign workers (32.8%) intend to stay in Croatia for up to five years. About 23.5% aim to stay for six to ten years, 20.5% until retirement, and 19.5% plan to remain in Croatia permanently.

Satisfaction with Life in Croatia

When asked about life satisfaction, 40% of foreign workers rated their lives highly (scoring 8, 9, or 10 on a scale of 0 to 10). Conversely, 26.5% reported being completely dissatisfied (scoring 0, 1, or 2), and 27% described themselves as neutral. Approximately 6% declined to respond.

In terms of living standards, 43.5% expressed high satisfaction, while 24% reported dissatisfaction. Similarly, 44% were very satisfied with their achievements, while 25% were very dissatisfied.

Nearly half (49.3%) of the respondents were highly satisfied with their sense of safety, and a similar percentage (48.8%) were optimistic about their future security. However, 28% expressed significant concerns about future security.

Regarding quality of life changes, 34.5% reported significant improvements since moving to Croatia, 46.25% noted slight improvements, 11% found no change, and 8.25% experienced a decline in quality of life.

An overwhelming 87.5% of foreign workers believe they have the right to an equal quality of life as Croatians, while 12.5% disagreed.

Mixed Experiences of Migrant Life

Opinions on migrant life varied, with 22% considering their experience close to ideal and 20% feeling it was far from ideal.

Approximately 33.5% rated their migrant living conditions as excellent, while 23% described them as poor. Satisfaction with migrant life was high for 38%, while 21% were very dissatisfied.

Health and Well-being

Around 61% rated their physical health as excellent or very good, with 33% describing it as good. Only 5% reported poor or very poor health.

Similarly, 62% rated their mental health as excellent or very good, 31% as good, and 7% reported poor mental health.

Additionally, 60% experienced some form of physical pain over the past four weeks, ranging from mild to severe, while 40% reported no pain.

Positive Outlook for Foreign Workers in Croatia

“The findings indicate that a relatively large number of foreign workers from Asia are generally satisfied with life and work in Croatia. However, a significant portion expresses dissatisfaction with their current position in society. Overall, the situation can be viewed positively. The new Aliens Act and recent initiatives will further strengthen the status of foreign workers in Croatia, likely attracting more highly skilled labour in the coming years,” noted the study’s lead researcher, Ivan Balabanić.

The Ministry of Demography and Immigration has emphasised its commitment to increasing birth rates, reducing emigration, encouraging the return of the Croatian diaspora, and integrating foreign workers into society.

“The results suggest that the situation is not as critical as often portrayed in public discourse. The recent legislative changes are timely and will enable the stable acceptance and integration of foreign workers into Croatian society, who will undoubtedly continue to arrive in significant numbers to meet the demands of our labour market in the coming years,” Balabanić concluded.