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Croatia: German companies are focusing on growth despite a shortage of skilled workers!
Croatian economy: Survey shows positive investment climate, skills shortage as biggest risk for growth in 2026.
Croatia: German companies are focusing on growth despite a shortage of skilled workers!
The German-Croatian Chamber of Commerce and Industry published its annual economic survey at the beginning of May 2025, which once again confirmed the trust of German companies in the Croatian economy. Almost 90% of the over 100 participating member companies rate the current economic situation in Croatia as good or satisfactory. This positive assessment shows continued optimism among investors, which is clearly reflected in the expectations for 2026: over three quarters of companies expect similar or even stronger economic growth in the coming year. What is particularly noteworthy is that 86% of respondents would invest in Croatia again, underlining the confidence in the market gtai.de reported.
Croatia is viewed positively by German investors not only because of its EU membership, but also because of its favorable geographical location and stable economic conditions. These factors make the country an attractive location for companies seeking international business prospects. Despite this positive general mood, the shortage of skilled workers remains the greatest economic risk. Not only does it affect production capacity, but it also leads to the rejection of additional orders, which could have a negative impact on growth.
Assessments and challenges
The survey also shows that companies are increasingly relying on internal training programs and expanding digital processes in response to the shortage of skilled workers. This is crucial to compensate for the lack of qualified personnel. Over half of companies actively promote training measures and digitalization in order to remain competitive. However, the member companies are also calling on the Croatian government to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and make public administration more efficient in order to further improve the investment climate ahk.de supplemented.
In addition, potential for improvement was identified in the areas of administrative benefits, public administration and the legal environment. Company representatives emphasize the high trustworthiness of the Croatian market, despite the challenges influenced primarily by global geopolitical events such as the new trade policies of the USA. More than half of the companies surveyed see these geopolitical developments as a risk factor for their business activities.
Overall, the survey reflects the trust of the German economy in Croatia and shows the need for reforms that are necessary to further increase the country's attractiveness as an investment location. The conditions for future investments appear to be in place as long as existing challenges are actively addressed.