Unemployment in Croatia: Trends and Challenges in the Digital Age (2010-2024)

This paper investigates the trend of unemployment in the Republic of Croatia during the period from 2010 to 2024, using econometric methods of time series analysis. By applying linear trend models and second-degree trend-polynomials, the research quantifies the tendency of decreasing the number of unemployed, while simultaneously identifying oscillatory movements within the observed period. Data analysis shows that the peak of unemployment was recorded in 2013, followed by a significant decline, which is reflected both in absolute values and in structural changes in the shares of unemployed by gender and age. In addition to quantitative analysis, the paper looks at the challenges of the digital era and the transition to Industry 5.0, emphasizing the need for managing organizational changes and adapting the education system. This transformation places new demands on the workforce, which is reflected in the need for lifelong learning, retraining and the development of digital competencies, especially in the context of the application of artificial intelligence. This indicates a two-way impact - on the one hand, technological progress can result in the loss of traditional jobs, while on the other hand, it opens up opportunities for the creation of new, better jobs.