The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) recorded significant shifts in its labor market during the third quarter of 2024, according to the Labor Force Survey published by the FBiH Statistics Agency.

Out of a working-age population of 1,846,000, 928,000 individuals (50.2%) were economically active, while 919,000 (49.8%) were outside the labour force. Among the active population, 799,000 people were employed (43.3%), and 129,000 were unemployed (7.0%).

Compared to the second quarter of 2024, the number of employed individuals increased by 3.3%, while unemployment dropped by 7.2%. Year-on-year, employment rose by 4.7%, and unemployment fell by 8.6%.

The total active population grew by 1.7% quarter-over-quarter and by 2.6% compared to the third quarter of 2023. Consequently, the employment rate climbed by 1.4 percentage points from the second quarter and by 2.0 percentage points year-on-year. The unemployment rate dropped by 1.3 percentage points from the previous quarter and by 1.7 percentage points compared to the same period in 2023.

Gender disparities in the labour market

Men accounted for 564,000 (60.8%) of the active population, while women made up 364,000 (39.2%). Of the 799,000 employed individuals, 499,000 (62.5%) were men, and 300,000 (37.5%) were women.

Unemployment figures were more balanced, with 65,000 men (50.2%) and 64,000 women (49.8%) out of work.

Activity, employment, and unemployment rates

The activity rate for the third quarter stood at 50.2%, with the employment rate at 43.3% and the unemployment rate at 13.9%.

However, significant gender disparities persisted. The activity rate for men was 62.6%, nearly double that for women at 38.5%. Similarly, the employment rate for men was 55.4%, compared to just 31.7% for women. The unemployment rate was 11.5% for men, while for women, it was considerably higher at 17.6%.

Positive trends and future outlook

The consistent increase in employment and decrease in unemployment reflects a strengthening labor market in FBiH. With ongoing economic efforts, the Federation aims to further enhance participation rates and reduce gender disparities in employment opportunities.