Zagreb, 21 September – According to the recent projections made by the Croatian Employment Service, by the end of the year the unemployment registry could increase to between 280 and 295 thousands. In July, number of unemployed persons was 5% higher than the year before, and by the end of the year increase could come up to 15%, says the report presented at the meeting of the Economic and Social Council.

Most newly unemployed come from the manufacturing industry, commerce, building and tourism. Unemployment increase is the highest in industrially developed Zagreb and the Western regions of Croatia, mostly effecting persons aged between 15 and 30 and with higher education.