The 2025 Business Environment Survey in Croatia, conducted by the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham), offers insights into business performance, challenges, and expectations in Croatia. The survey included responses from 152 executives of domestic and international companies.

Key findings:

• 64% of companies reported improved business performance in 2024 compared to the previous year.

• Nearly half of the companies increased employment, while only 11% reduced staff.

• 61% of respondents rated the overall business environment in Croatia as good or very good.

• Top business constraints: lack of qualified workforce, labor taxation, and inflation.

• Worsening factors over the past five years: labor costs and workforce quality.

• Improvements noted in demand for goods/services and financing conditions.

• Positive influence of government institutions was observed by 44% of respondents; local governments were seen as positive by 19%.

• Regional comparison: 30% of companies find Croatia’s conditions more favorable than those in other CEE countries; 53% find them comparable.

• Main disadvantages: small market size, slow bureaucracy, and limited workforce quality.

• Key advantages: EU membership, geostrategic location, and tourism potential.

• 78% of companies plan to expand in Croatia within the next three years, and 68% plan to hire new employees.

• Wage growth: 95% of companies increased wages in the last three years, mainly between 10–20%.

• 2025 expectations: Over 80% plan to increase wages, with 31% aiming above the inflation rate.