Around 60 percent of workers plan to change jobs in the next year
Salary remains the main and decisive factor when choosing a job, according to 66 percent of respondents in a survey conducted by Infostud at the Regional Job Fair. According to Infostud, workers in Serbia are getting closer to those in Croatia, where 74 percent of respondents believe that salary is the key factor in deciding whether to accept a certain job.
Immediately after pay, candidates in Serbia most often cite interpersonal relations as the second most important factor in employment.
More than 60 percent of employees say it is important for them to work in a team where there is mutual respect and good communication, which is almost identical to the results in Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia.
“In Croatia, this share is slightly higher at around 67 percent, which indicates slightly higher expectations regarding organisational culture. The next factors are related to working hours, flexibility and general work–life balance, highlighted by about one-third of workers in Serbia. We see a similar pattern in neighbouring countries, although in Croatia flexibility is more often taken for granted,” Infostud stated.
For around one-third of respondents, opportunities for learning and advancement also play an important role, a topic that is more prominent in Serbia than in Croatia but less so than in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Job security is important, but not decisive – just under 20 percent of workers mention it, once again placing Serbia between Croatia (where the feeling of stability is stronger) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (where insecurity is more common).
Willingness to change jobs – a signal to employers that they must be more competitive
The data reveal a high level of worker mobility in Serbia. Over the past year, 37 percent of employees changed jobs – practically every third worker. This level of mobility is very similar to Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia, while Croatia records a slightly lower level of change.
What stands out in particular is the planned behaviour of workers in the coming period: 59 percent of respondents in Serbia plan to change jobs within the next year. In other words, more than half of employees are monitoring the labour market and considering new opportunities, even if they are currently employed. In such circumstances, employers can no longer rely on loyalty coming naturally; they must have a clear and strong offer that motivates workers to stay.
When asked whether they fear losing their job, one-third of employees in Serbia answered yes, meaning every third worker feels insecure from time to time. This is an expected level for a market that frequently undergoes economic and structural changes.
On the other hand, 42 percent of respondents say they are not afraid, while 28 percent do not think about it at all. Serbia thus sits in the middle of the regional scale – workers in Croatia feel the least insecure, while in Bosnia and Herzegovina that fear is the most pronounced. In Serbia the situation is balanced: people generally do not live in fear, but they are sufficiently aware that security is not always guaranteed.
What is considered a “decent” salary by workers?
When it comes to pay, the survey provides a clear picture of employees’ expectations regarding the amount needed for a normal life. Based on respondents’ answers, the expected average net salaries in each country were calculated:
Croatia: around 1,650 euros
Serbia: around 1,165 euros
North Macedonia: around 1,075 euros
Bosnia and Herzegovina: around 1,050 euros
In Serbia, one piece of data stands out: 64 percent of respondents expect a salary in the range of 730 to 1,330 euros. This means that almost two-thirds of workers believe that this range would provide a decent standard of living – an amount that is not luxurious but ensures stability and the ability to plan long-term.
This range of expectations clearly places Serbia in the middle of the regional scale – above Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia, but below Croatia – which fully aligns with differences in living costs and standards in each respective country.
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