Labour Market Information: Slovenia

National level - Slovenia

^{* The years referenced in this report vary, as the data is based on the most up-to-date information available for each indicator, as of December 2024.}

Labour market

As of 1 January 2024, about 2.1 million people lived in Slovenia. The gross domestic product per inhabitant was EUR 27 000 in 2022, 23.7% lower than the average of EUR 35 400 per inhabitant in the EU27. Between 2018 and 2022, the GDP per capita increased by 22%.

^{Note: nama_10r_2gdp, Statistics | Eurostat (europa.eu)}

In 2023, more than 1 million people were active on the labour market in Slovenia. The employment rate was 72.5%, 2.1 percentage points higher than the EU27 average and 1.4 percentage points higher compared to 2018. In 2023, for women, the employment rate was 69.4%, for men, the employment rate was 75.4%, and for youth, the employment rate was 32.6%, with men and women having rates higher than the EU average and with only youth having a rate lower than the EU average.

^{Note: lfst_r_lfe2emprt, data refer to working age population (15-64), youth age group (15-24)  Statistics | Eurostat (europa.eu)}

In 2023, the unemployment rate was nearly matching the level registered in 2022. In 2023, the unemployment rate has not yet returned to the level before the pandemic, when it equalled 5.2% in 2018, and 4.5% in 2019. The unemployment rate is consistently below the EU27 average. In 2023, it was 2.5 percentage points lower in Slovenia than in the EU27.

In 2023, 86.3% of the active workforce were from Slovenia, 2% from other EU Member States and 11.7 from third countries. In the EU27, as of 2023, the highest proportion of the workforce comes from the respective country (85% on average), while on average a smaller portion is from foreign countries (4.3% from other EU Member States, and 10.5% from third countries).

In 2022, most employees worked in manufacturing (29.3%), followed by wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (16.2%), construction (10.8%) and professional, scientific and technical activities (9.2%). In terms of number of enterprises, most can be found in professional, scientific and technical activities (21.4%), wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (13.9%), and construction (12.2%).

In Slovenia, the highest proportion of employees (36%) worked in micro companies with up to 9 employees. These companies accounted for the majority of all enterprises in the country (95.2%) with 185 522 of such businesses. 26.3% of persons employed worked in large companies with more than 250 employees, 18.9% of persons employed worked in medium companies with 50 to 249 employees, 10.1% of persons employed worked in small companies with 20 to 49 employees and 8.7% of persons employed worked in small companies with 10 to 19 employees.

Vacancies

In 2024, in Slovenia, the occupational groups with the highest occurrence of shortage occupations were: Building and Related Trades Workers (excluding Electricians), Metal, Machinery and Related Trades Workers and Health Professionals. On the other hand, the occupational groups with the highest occurrence of surplus occupations were: Legal, Social and Cultural Professionals, Business and Administration Associate Professionals and Customer Services Clerks.

Read more about labour shortages and surpluses in Europe: Labour shortages and surpluses in Europe 2023 | European Labour Authority (europa.eu)

Job vacancy rate

Regarding the job vacancy rate (defined as the number of job vacancies expressed as a percentage of the total sum of occupied posts and job vacancies), in 2023 this was 2.7 % in the industry, construction and services, nearly matching the EU27 average. This rate has increased by 0.3 percentage points compared to 2022 and it is still above the situation before 2020, when it stood only at 2.3%.

^{Note: jvs_a_rate_r2 Statistics | Eurostat}

The sectors with the highest vacancy rates were human health and social work activities; education; arts, entertainment and recreation; public administration and defence; compulsory social security; administrative and support services.

^{Note: lfsa_ehomp, Product - Datasets - Eurostat}

Widely used job portals

Wages

Minimum wage

As of 1 January 2024, the statutory minimum wage in Slovenia was set at 1253.9 EUR.

Monthly average gross and net earnings

In 2023, the gross average earnings of a single person stood at EUR 2222, while the EU27 average was EUR 3417. The equivalent net wage was EUR 1 462 in Slovenia, compared to EUR 2351 in the EU27. Compared to 2018, gross average earnings increased by 36.2% in Slovenia and by 19.8% in the EU27. During the same period, the net wages have increased by 36% in Slovenia and by 22.1% in the EU27.

^{Note: earn_nt_net, Single person earning 100% average, annual rates transformed into 12 monthly payments. Statistics | Eurostat (europa.eu)}

Trends

Go directly to Female labour market participation | Immigration | Remote work | Unemployment

Female labour market participation

In Slovenia, the employment rate of women is higher than the EU average, as the country ensures equal conditions in the labour market for both men and women through various measures. As more employers recognize the importance of balancing professional and family life, the number of those who have obtained the Family Friendly Enterprise Certificate is increasing. The country also has a well-organized public network of kindergartens. In Slovenia the retirement age for women has increased in last years. Nevertheless, women still have a lower employment rate (according to the survey conducted by the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, 51.8% in the second quarter of 2024; than men 61.2%), while the unemployment rate has been equalized between genders in 2024 due to favourable employment trends. Most unemployed women seek jobs in administration, trade, cleaning, as workers in manufacturing, in hospitality, personal services, education, healthcare, and social care.

Immigration (from the EU, from third countries)

Due to structural mismatches in the labour market and unfavourable demographic trends, we have been facing an increasing shortage of skilled workers in recent years, which slows down economic development. Employers try to tackle this challenge also by employing foreigners. The Employment Service of the Republic of Slovenia plays an important role in this, organizing various employment events where employers can present themselves directly to job seekers. According to the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, in August 2024, 15.8% of all employed residents were foreigners. Among foreign workers, 13% were from EU countries, and 87% from third countries. Most foreigners are employed in construction, manufacturing, and transport and storage. Most of the employed foreign workers come from the former Yugoslav countries.

Remote work

Unemployment (e.g. long-term, youth, female, structural or low-skilled)

As unemployment declines to its lowest level since Slovenia’s independence, its structure is also shifting. A greater number of persons who require comprehensive career counselling and assistance in obtaining employment continue to be unemployed due to a variety of barriers, including age, disability, lack of work experience, low education, and skills. The number of unemployed men, first-time job seekers, unemployed youth aged 15 to 29, and unemployed with lower education is decreasing at a slower rate than the total number of unemployed in the last year, while the share of unemployed with vocational education is decreasing the fastest in the educational structure. The share of long-term unemployed has fallen below 50%, but among the long-term unemployed, those who have been unemployed for more than two years prevail. The long-term unemployed are mostly people with disabilities, older people, those with lower education, men, and first-time job seekers.

Eastern Slovenia (Vzhodna Slovenija)

With 1 107 885 inhabitants, Eastern Slovenia represented about 52.3% of the population in Slovenia in 2023.

The gross domestic product per capita, adjusted for price levels (PPS) in Eastern Slovenia was 61.9% of the EU27 average, well below the national average of 76.3%.

In 2023, more than 529 200 people were active in the labour market in Eastern Slovenia. 32.6% had tertiary education, 57.6% had secondary education, and 9.8% had primary education. The employment rate in Eastern Slovenia was 55 % in 2023, 1.4 percentage points lower than the national average in Slovenia and in line with 2022 figures.

The employment rate for women in 2023 was 50.1%, men had an employment rate of 59.8%, and for the youth the employment rate was 31.6%, all below the national average.

^{Note: lfst_r_lfe2emprt, Statistics | Eurostat (europa.eu), tgs00010,} 

The unemployment rate in Eastern Slovenia was 3.8% in 2023, in line with the national average in the same year and in line with the previous year.

^{Note: lfst_r_lfe2emprt, Statistics | Eurostat (europa.eu), tgs00010,}