Croatia’s Shipbuilding Industry, which is of vital importance to the country, is short of 1,300 workers according to Croatian media. 

The industry is short of qualified fitters, welders and pipe fitters, specifically in an industry which is showing strong signs of recovery. Croatia’s economy has this year begun to emerge from a recession, that had been ongoing for six years.

Compounding the problem is the fact that only 13 students are currently attending the specialist school for shipbuilding in the port city of Rijeka.

Pressure is now being put on the Ministry of Labour and Government by Croatia’s shipbuilding industry to extend the issuing of permits to foreigners.

However, permits to foreigners are likely to be controversial in a country where unemployment stands at nearly 16%. The rate was over 20% at the turn of the year.