Nexus Europa
Live
Europe PulseEconomy & EnergyEastern FrontierDefence & IndustryPowerRussian InfluenceSocietyBalkansFuture EuropeOther
Economy & EnergyAI-generated

Croatia targets €1,600 average wage by 2028 as experts urge productivity reforms

Nexus Europa Newsroom
Posted Oct 30, 2026, 01:00 PM UTC · In the digest of 2026-10-30-1300
Croatia targets €1,600 average wage by 2028 as experts urge productivity reforms
Photo: Poslovni dnevnik

Croatia aims for a €1,600 average wage by 2028, but economic experts and employers warn that slowing growth requires urgent productivity reforms.

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković announced a target to increase average net monthly wages to €1,600 by the end of his term in 2028, with consultations on adjusting the minimum wage scheduled for October. Although Croatia registered its 22nd consecutive quarter of GDP expansion, recent growth has shown signs of slowing down.

To strengthen competitiveness, the government introduced a National Industrial Development Plan allocating nearly €3 billion through 2034 to increase manufacturing's share of national output. Mislav Balković, president of the Croatian Employers' Association, stressed that rising labor costs are outpacing productivity gains, advocating for a growth model driven by real-sector investment rather than public spending and EU funds. Conversely, economist and former minister Ljubo Jurčić offered a critical assessment, stating the economy is drifting "without an engine and without a rudder" and requires annual growth exceeding five percent.

Sources: HRT Vijesti, Index, Poslovni dnevnik, Vijesti

How outlets assessed this

  • Oct 20, 2026, 06:00 AM UTC
    • Klix Supportive Highlighted government projections showing economic growth outpacing the European Union average and reaching milestone GDP levels.
    • Index Critical Emphasized expert critiques describing the economy as drifting without strategic direction and warning of slowing quarterly growth.
    • Poslovni dnevnik Cautious Focused on employer warnings that labor costs are rising faster than productivity, urging private sector-driven expansion.
  • Oct 22, 2026, 12:30 AM UTC
    • Index Skeptical Highlights criticism that the economy lacks clear direction and requires growth rates above 5 percent to sustain momentum.
    • Poslovni dnevnik Cautious Emphasizes warnings from business representatives that wage growth is outpacing productivity gains.
    • Klix Neutral Focuses on official government projections regarding GDP milestones and regional economic metrics.
  • Oct 23, 2026, 03:30 PM UTC
    • Klix Neutral Emphasized official government projections of GDP exceeding €100 billion and growth outpacing EU averages.
    • Poslovni dnevnik Cautious Focused on employer warnings that labor costs are rising faster than economic productivity.
    • Index Critical Highlighted economic critiques from Ljubo Jurčić regarding slowing quarterly expansion and lack of structural direction.
  • Oct 24, 2026, 12:30 AM UTC
    • Klix Supportive Emphasized government projections showing Croatia's economic growth outpacing European Union averages and reaching milestone targets.
    • Poslovni dnevnik Cautious Focused on employer concerns regarding rising labor costs outstripping productivity gains in the private sector.
    • Index Critical Highlighted expert warnings that Croatia's slowing growth leaves the economy drifting without clear directional drivers.
  • Oct 24, 2026, 06:30 AM UTC
    • Klix Supportive Emphasized government projections showing Croatian GDP growth significantly outstripping European Union averages.
    • Index Critical Highlighted economist Ljubo Jurčić's criticism that Croatia's economy lacks strategic direction as quarterly growth slows.
    • Poslovni dnevnik Cautious Focused on employer warnings that labor costs are rising faster than productivity after years of reliance on EU funds.
  • Oct 29, 2026, 01:00 PM UTC
    • Index Critical Highlights economist warnings that Croatia's slowing GDP expansion leaves the economy drifting without clear direction.
    • Poslovni dnevnik Cautious Focuses on employers' warnings that rising labor costs are outstripping productivity gains in the real sector.
    • Vijesti Neutral Reports on government commitments to raise average wages to €1,600 by 2028 and negotiate new minimum wage levels.
  • Oct 29, 2026, 03:00 PM UTC
    • Index Critical Highlighted economist warnings that Croatia's slowing economy lacks strategic direction and requires growth rates above five percent.
    • Poslovni dnevnik Cautious Focused on employer warnings that labor costs are rising faster than productivity, questioning state-driven growth models.
  • Oct 29, 2026, 07:00 PM UTC
    • Vijesti Supportive Focuses on Prime Minister Plenković's ambitious targets for wage growth and minimum wage consultations.
    • Index Critical Highlights economist Ljubo Jurčić's warning that the economy is drifting without structural momentum or effective direction.
    • Poslovni dnevnik Cautious Emphasizes employer warnings that labor cost growth is outstripping productivity, threatening long-term economic competitiveness.
    • HRT Vijesti Neutral Frames the story around state industrial strategies aimed at boosting technological development and economic resilience.
  • Oct 30, 2026, 01:00 AM UTC
    • HRT Vijesti Supportive Focused on government investments, including the €3 billion National Industrial Development Plan to boost manufacturing.
    • Poslovni dnevnik Cautious Emphasized employer warnings that labor costs are rising faster than productivity after years of public spending growth.
    • Index Critical Highlighted expert critiques characterizing economic growth as slowing down and lacking direction without structural reform.
  • Oct 30, 2026, 07:00 AM UTC
    • Vijesti Supportive Highlighted government targets to raise average wages to €1,600 and adjust the minimum wage.
    • Poslovni dnevnik Cautious Focused on employer warnings that labor costs are rising faster than economic productivity.
    • Index Critical Reported expert warnings that the economy is floating without direction despite ongoing quarterly growth.
  • Oct 30, 2026, 01:00 PM UTC
    • HRT Vijesti Cautious Focused on state investments under the National Industrial Development Plan to boost productivity and manufacturing.
    • Index Critical Highlighted expert critiques warning that the economy is drifting without direction as growth slows down.
    • Poslovni dnevnik Skeptical Emphasized employer concerns that wage growth is unsustainably outpacing productivity in the real sector.

Sources

Earlier coverage

Share