Employers will be challenged with recruiting enough workers to keep up with customer needs this year. Hotels/restaurants/resorts/tourism businesses will need to hire more than 65000 seasonal workers in 2026 alone. Some employers have already started recruitment early due to the local labour shortage. Croatian employers must look to foreign recruits to help them hire additional employees to support their businesses.
It’s more than just hiring; it’s about business planning. Without sufficient labour, businesses may experience lower service levels, fewer customer satisfaction metrics, and challenges managing daily operations.
Why Croatia Needs Seasonal Workers
Tourism is one of the largest industries in Croatia, and, during peak season, demand for labour on behalf of all hotel/restaurant/resort/tourism businesses is extremely high.
Employers hire many types of workers, including chefs, wait staff, pastry chefs, housekeeping staff, receptionists, activity coordinators, cleaning people, kitchen assistants, and retail staff. These employees are required so that employers can continue to provide guest services that meet customer expectations.
However, Croatian domestic labour cannot fill the demand for employees. A large number of local workers want more secure, long-term positions and better pay for their work, while many seasonal jobs require longer hours of work and greater flexibility in scheduling. Therefore, employers have been forced to source international workers for their businesses in order to meet staffing ratios in accordance with their business plans.
What This Means for Employers
If seasonal hiring is delayed, then employers could incur significant pressure on their operations. For example, hotel operators may find it difficult to get rooms ready in time, restaurants may not be able to efficiently serve customers, and retailers may struggle to manage customer volume during peak tourist seasons.
When staffing levels are low, additional pressure will be placed on those who remain, as employees can become stressed, unproductive and more likely to leave; furthermore, in businesses where customer satisfaction is paramount, even small gaps in workforce impact the company’s reputation and sales.
The need for early recruitment processes among Croatian employers is therefore essential to their success.
Why Early Recruitment Is Important
Recruitment for seasonal employment should not be conducted at the last minute; those recruiting after April/May have lost the opportunity to fill their roles because others have already employed all good applicants.
The benefit of employing seasonal workers early is that the organisation will have more opportunities to select the best-fit people, gather necessary documentation, make arrangements for permits and prepare their employees for the job function. It is very important to have sufficient lead time to employ foreign nationals, as there are several important planning steps involved in the immigration/deployment process.
How International Recruitment Can Help
Employers have access to a larger pool of skilled and semi-skilled employees when they recruit on an international basis. This helps tourism and hospitality companies find employees who are eager to work in stressful environments for urgent seasonal positions.
International employees can assist an employer in maintaining service levels, managing peak season workloads, and relieving local employees of excessive workloads. When good screening and preparation are used, international recruitment can be a very effective method of providing a reliable workforce solution.
How Dynamic Staffing Services Supports Clients
Dynamic Staffing Services provides employers with reliable international workers for a variety of sectors, including hospitality, tourism, retail, construction, logistics, and many more.
Dynamic Staffing Services assists clients by providing a full range of services, including understanding the client’s workforce requirements, sourcing candidates, screening potential candidates, coordinating documentation, and supporting clients throughout the recruitment process. Dynamic Staffing Services will save employers time and decrease the risk associated with the recruiting process, and provide employers with a reliable workforce for both seasonal and longer-term business requirements.
Build a Strong Seasonal Workforce
To avoid the seasonal workforce shortage experienced by many employers in Croatia, companies need to plan and partner with the right recruitment agency. By preparing for the seasonal workforce needs, businesses will be better able to manage the peak demand during the busy seasons, maintain the service level to their customers, and grow their businesses.
Interested in hiring an international workforce in Croatia or other international employment markets. Contact Dynamic Staffing Services at clientservices@dss-hr.com.
