According to estimates by the Croatian Association of Employers, more than half a million foreign workers are expected to work in Croatia by 2030. There is a labour shortage across all industries, including trade. Increasingly, workers from distant countries, such as Nepal and the Philippines, are filling these gaps, with about 30 percent of foreign workers coming from these two nations.

The average salary in retail ranges from 700 to 1,000 euros. "Croatia often serves as an entry point for EU countries because the more developed countries of the European Union offer higher wages not only in trade but also in all activities," said Martin Evačić, president of the HUP - Trade Association.

And added "Given the labour shortage, we also employ people with primary education," he says, adding that he often hears customers' dissatisfaction with the service in stores. However, he notes, this is a reality not only in retail but across the entire economy due to the insufficient number of adequately qualified workers.