by croatiaweek
August 24, 2025
in
Grants prove lifeline for jobseekers in Croatia
Since the launch of Croatia’s self-employment support programme in late 2016, nearly 50,000 people have started their own businesses with the help of state and EU-funded grants, figures from the Croatian Employment Service (HZZ) reveal.
Between October 2016 and the end of July this year, 49,596 people used the scheme, which offers financial assistance to the unemployed to open a business, trade, or company. In the first seven months of 2025 alone, 2,687 people took up the opportunity, nacional.hr reported.
The grants are designed to help those with skills and business ideas but lacking the start-up capital often required by banks or investors. For many, the scheme has proved a lifeline.
Since 2016, Croatia’s business support scheme has distributed over €451.8 million, offering up to €7,000 for flat-rate trades and as much as €15,000 for companies or traditional trades, with €24.5 million granted in the first half of this year alone.
Most recipients chose flat-rate trades for their lower costs and simpler administration, with construction leading as the top sector (752 ventures, 28% of the total), followed by personal and repair services (624) and professional, scientific, and technical fields (402).
The programme has helped fuel entrepreneurship and contributed to a sharp decline in unemployment, which fell from 16.1% in 2016 to a record low of 4% by July this year, though experts highlight that emigration and labour market trends also play a role.
The initiative is largely co-financed by the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and Croatia’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NPOO).