SI ·
Slovenia: registered unemployment rises seasonally to 43,032 in October 2026
Slovenia's Employment Service (ZRSZ) reported 43,032 registered unemployed people at the end of October 2026 – 1.4% more than in September but 5.8% fewer than a year earlier. The figures are official; here is what they show and what they do not.
What the Employment Service reported
On 4 November 2026 the Employment Service of Slovenia (Zavod RS za zaposlovanje, ZRSZ) published its figures for October. At the end of the month, 43,032 people were registered as unemployed. That is 1.4% more than in September and 5.8% fewer than in October 2025. The Service describes the monthly increase as seasonal: every October, more young people who have just finished their education register while looking for their first job.
Flows in October
In October, 6,311 people newly registered as unemployed, 13.7% more than in September. In the same month, 3,384 registered unemployed people found work, 19.2% fewer than the month before.
January to October 2026
Over the first ten months of 2026, an average of 44,507 people per month were registered as unemployed, 1.5% fewer than in the same period of 2025. 50,154 people newly registered as unemployed (3.5% fewer) and 34,607 found employment (2.0% fewer). Employers notified the Service of 130,228 vacancies, 1.1% fewer than in January–October 2025.
What this means for international jobseekers
Registered unemployment in Slovenia is lower than a year ago, and employers continue to notify a large number of vacancies. However, these statistics do not show which vacancies are open to people from outside the EU, and the summary release does not break the figures down by citizenship or occupation. Whether you can take up a job in Slovenia depends on your citizenship, your residence status and the specific job; non-EU citizens generally need a valid permit before starting work. Check the official pages of the Employment Service, including EURES and its section on the employment of foreign nationals, before making plans.
Also new: acting head of the Employment Service
On 5 November 2026 the Government appointed Mitja Bobnar as acting Director-General of the Employment Service; he takes office on 7 November 2026. The announcement we reviewed does not mention any changes to services or procedures.
What is still unclear – and how WorkMarket.eu works
The summary release does not explain regional differences or which occupations are most in demand; the Service's more detailed monthly report was not reviewed in full for this article. A single month's seasonal rise should not be read as a trend. Workers pay no recruitment fees through WorkMarket.eu. Every cross-border move or legal work start needs individual human review, and nothing in these figures means that anyone is automatically eligible for a job, a permit or residence.