ATTITUDES TOWARDS IMMIGRANT WORKERS, THEIR POSITION ON THE LABOR MARKET AND EXPERIENCES OF INTEGRATION IN CROATIA

A SEMI-SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEMATIC ANALYSIS

Abstract

This paper analyses the existing scientific literature on labour migration in Croatia through a semi-systematic literature review and thematic analysis, with the aim of synthesising knowledge about migration trends, the position of foreign workers on the labour market, their integration experiences, and public attitudes. The analysis includes 22 scientific papers published in Croatian social science journals in the period from 2013 to 2025, and the interpretation of the findings is based on the theoretical frameworks of intergroup threat and group position theory. The results indicate a continuous increase in the need for foreign labour, especially in sectors with significant labour shortages, such as construction, tourism, and the service sector. Foreign workers are generally concentrated in lower-paid and lower-skilled occupations, although a smaller group of highly educated workers is also present. Despite the growing demand, they face numerous challenges, including higher unemployment, administrative obstacles, and limited access to rights and services. The analysis of public attitudes reveals a pronounced ambivalence: although there is awareness of the economic need for foreign workers, there are also negative attitudes, high social distance, and a perception of migrants as socioeconomic and sociocultural threats. These attitudes are linked to socio-demographic and socio-cultural characteristics and the broader socio-political context, which confirms the relevance of the applied theoretical approaches. Migrants’ integration experience points to the important role of employers, but also to shortcomings in the form of weak institutional support, especially in the areas of language, information, and access to rights. In conclusion, the paper points to the need for further development of integration policies based on empirical findings as well as strengthening interdisciplinary cooperation. It also highlights the need for additional qualitative research in order to better understand the everyday experiences of immigrants and improve the effectiveness of integration policies in Croatia.