According to the LFS data for the first quarter 2024, the number of the employed persons was 2 871 700, the number of the unemployed persons was 299 100 persons, while the number of the population outside the labour force was 2 475 700.
Compared to the same quarter of the previous year the number of the employed persons is higher by 61 600, while the number of unemployed and the population outside the labour force is lower by 14 500, i.e. 76 700. The employment rate (50.9%) increased for 1.4 percentage points (p.p.), while the unemployment rate (9.4%) and the rate of outside the labour force population (43.8%) decreased for 0.6 p. p. and 1.2 p.p respectively.
Compared to the fourth quarter of 2023, noted was the increase in the number of the employed and unemployed by 27 500, and by 14 400 respectively, while the number of population outside the labour force decreased by 51 800 persons. The employment rate is higher by 0.6 p. p., unemployment rate by 0.3 p. p., and the rate of the population outside the labour force recorded a decrease of 0.9 p. p.
Total rate of informal employment was 12.1%, where of the rate of informal employment in the agricultural sector was 50.5% and in non-agricultural sectors 6.5%.
The data in this release is compared to the revised data for 2023 and is not comparable to the data published in the releases of the same name during 2023 (more details in section: Revision)
(r) revised data
Table 1 Basic indicators of labour market trends, first quarter of 2024
| Q1 2024 | Changes relative to previous quarter | Changes relative to same quarter of the previous year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| % | p. p. | p. p. | |
| Activity rate | 56.2 | 0.9 | 1.2 |
| Employment rate | 50.9 | 0.6 | 1.4 |
| Rate of informal employment (total) | 12.1 | -0.4 | -0.2 |
| Rate of informal employment, excl. agriculture | 6.5 | -0.3 | 0.1 |
| Rate of informal employment in agriculture | 50.5 | 0.2 | -1.1 |
| Unemployment rate | 9.4 | 0.3 | -0.6 |
| Out of labour force rate | 43.8 | -0.9 | -1.2 |
| NEET rate | 13.7 | -0.1 | 2.3 |
Table 2. Population aged 15 and over, by working status, first quarter 2024
| Q1 2024 | Changes relative to previous quarter | Changes relative to same quarter of the previous year | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousand) | (in thousand) | % | (in thousand) | % | |
| Total population | 5646.5 | -10 | -0.2 | -29.6 | -0.5 |
| Active population | 3170.8 | 41.8 | 1.3 | 47.1 | 1.5 |
| Employed | 2871.7 | 27.5 | 1 | 61.6 | 2.1 |
| Formally employed | 2524.6 | 36.5 | 1.4 | 59.5 | 2.4 |
| Formally employed, excl. agriculture | 2344.1 | 42.9 | 1.8 | 55.4 | 2.4 |
| Formally employed in agriculture | 180.4 | -6.5 | -3.6 | 4 | 2.2 |
| Informally employed | 347.2 | -9 | -2.6 | 2.2 | 0.6 |
| Informally employed, excl. agriculture | 163.1 | -4.1 | -2.5 | 6.2 | 3.8 |
| Informally employed in agriculture | 184.1 | -4.9 | -2.7 | -4 | -2.2 |
| Unemployed | 299.1 | 14.4 | 5.1 | -14.5 | -4.8 |
| Out of labour force | 2475.7 | -51.8 | -2.1 | -76.7 | -3.1 |
In the first quarter of 2024, 12,313 households, i.e. 27,343 persons aged 15 and over, were interviewed.
Rounding rules
The results of the Labor Force Survey are published rounded to thousands, with one decimal place. Total values (summaries) do not always agree with the sum of the individual data, given that the ratings given in statistical publications are calculated using unrounded numbers (which gives more accurate data).
Revision of LFS data
During 2023 and 2024, the post-census revision and data revision were carried out due to the improvement of methodological procedures.
From the beginning of the first quarter of 2023, statistical indicators from the Labor Force Survey are calculated based on population estimates for 2022, according to 2022 Census. Ending with fourth quarter of 2022, population estimates based on the 2011 Census were used to evaluate the results of the Labor Force Survey.
Population estimates are based on the results of population census and the results of statistical processing of natural (births and deaths) and mechanical (internal migration) population movements.
In addition, until 2023, statistical indicators for the reference quarter of the observed year were calculated on the basis of population estimates for the year preceding the observed year. Due to the improvement of the quality of population estimates in terms of improving the timeliness of data, from 2024 statistical indicators for the reference quarter are calculated on the basis of population estimates for the reference quarter. Namely, developed, on a monthly level, automated electronic download of administrative data (births, deaths and internal migrations) necessary for obtaining basic population estimates, significantly shortens the period of data processing, as a result of which population estimates are now available one month after the reference period.
Therefore, from 2024, current population estimates are used to evaluate the results of the Labor Force Survey. With the aim of ensuring comparability of data with the data from the previous period, a revision of data for the period before 2024 was performed. Revision of micro data, i.e. level of weight, was carried out for the period 2021-2023. while for the period 2011-2020. it is only possible to revise the basic indicators.
Revised data from 2021 are in the database. Revised data 2011‒2021 will be available in the database in the following period.
More information on all revisions from 2021, as well as a comparative overview of basic indicators before and after revisions can be found in the reference metadata at the following, within the card 17.2.: https://data.stat.gov.rs/Metadata/24_Zarade/Html/240003_ESMS_G0_2023_3.html
Methodological notes
Labour Force Survey (LFS) is the most complex and the only internationally comparable instrument for labour trends monitoring, registering demographic and socio–economic characteristics of population aged 15 and over.
The main aim of the survey is estimating the labour force volume, i.e. employed and unemployed population, where employment relates to work in both formal and informal sector.
Additionally, LFS deals with characteristics of employment (professional status of the employed persons, their activity, occupation, rights realized at work…) and unemployment (acquired education, duration of job seeking, previous working experience…), as well as characteristics of outside the labour force population – their education, age, income source, reasons for not involving in the labour market, as well as readiness for involvement in labour market.
Persons (aged 15-89) who performed at least for one hour paid work (for cash or in kind) in the reference week, as well as persons who had an employment, but were temporarily absent from work in that week, are counted as employed persons.
Employment rate is the percentage share of employed in the total population aged 15 and over.
Informalogical notes employment is considered to be work in unregistered companies, work in registered companies without an employment contract, as well as the work of unpaid family workers.
Informal employment rate is the percentage share of informally employed in total employment.
Unemployed persons are the persons (aged 15-74) who, in the reference week, did no work for remuneration, who undertook active steps to find a job during four-week period ending with the reference week and who were able to start working in two-week time after the referent week.
Unemployment rate presents the percentage share of unemployed population in labour force (employed and unemployed).
Long-term unemployment rate presents the percentage share of the unemployed for one year and more, in labour force (employed and unemployed).
NEET rate – refers to share of persons aged 15 to 24 (or 15 - 29) neither employed, nor in education, training, in total population of that age.
Active population (labour force) includes all employed and unemployed persons.
Activity rate (share of labour force) presents the percentage share of active population in the referent population aged 15 and over.
Outside the labour force population includes all persons in the observed population (aged 15 and over) who are not classified in employed and unemployed population. Out of the labour force population comprises students, pensioners, persons performing household tasks, as well as all other persons who performed no paid job in the observed week, did not actively seek a job and who were not able to start working in two-week time after the observed week.
Outside the labour force rate presents the percentage share of outside the labour force population in total referent population aged 15 and over.
More detailed description of the Survey methodology can be found at the link https://data.stat.gov.rs/Metadata/24_Zarade/Html/240003_ESMS_G0_2023_3.html
Starting from 1999 the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia has not at disposal and may not provide available certain data relative to AP Kosovo and Metohija and therefore these data are not included in the coverage for the Republic of Serbia (total).