- by croatiaweek
- in News
Finding a reliable tradesperson in Croatia is becoming increasingly difficult, with homeowners facing long waiting times and rising prices for renovation and repair work.
A bathroom renovation can cost between €7,000 and €8,000, including work from demolition and installations to tiling and fitting sanitary equipment.
The shortage of skilled workers means customers may have to wait several months, with some tradespeople booked up for as long as a year or more.
The problem affects a wide range of services, including tiling, plumbing, carpentry, painting, air conditioning installation and electrical work.
Miroslav Đula, who runs an interior renovation business, told RTL Danas that he carries out jobs ranging from demolition and installations to laying tiles and fitting bathroom equipment.
Although trained as an electrician, he also undertakes other renovation work, partly because hiring specialists can be expensive.
Đula said customers sometimes wait up to two years for his services, reflecting the shortage of available workers.
He added that he had not renovated a bathroom for less than €7,000 to €8,000, with the price covering the work from start to finish.
According to the report, typical prices for individual jobs include €20 to €50 per square metre for laying ceramic tiles and €5 to €8 per square metre for painting walls.
Prices have continued to rise over several years and have not fallen outside the main construction season, as demand for skilled tradespeople remains strong.
Residents interviewed in Split described difficulties finding available workers, even for relatively straightforward projects.
One person said they had waited two months for a tiler and a plumber to become available.
Others said they relied on established tradespeople whose schedules were booked well in advance, making it necessary to plan renovation work months ahead.
While customers expect to pay for quality workmanship, they also want prices to remain reasonable and consistent with the work being carried out.
The shortage is particularly evident in Split, where the local tradespeople’s association has around 8,000 registered tradespeople, including approximately 800 working in construction-related trades.
Association president Vilim Bujević said the number of construction tradespeople was insufficient to meet market demand. He said greater emphasis should be placed on vocational education to encourage young people to pursue skilled trades.
He also pointed to the resilience of these occupations as artificial intelligence develops, arguing that practical work requiring hands-on skills will remain important.
There are signs that some vocational trades continue to attract students.
At Split’s School of Craft and Technical Education, the carpentry programme has been fully subscribed for years.
Practical training teacher Milan Lučin told RTL Danas skilled trades were becoming more valued, with qualified workers likely to have good employment prospects.
Warning over unregistered work
The tradespeople’s association also warned consumers about hiring workers who operate without proper registration.
Although informal arrangements may appear cheaper initially, work carried out without an invoice or a guarantee can leave homeowners without protection if problems arise.
The association said subsequent repairs can add to the overall cost.
With demand for renovation services remaining strong and skilled workers in short supply, homeowners in Croatia may need to plan projects well in advance, compare quotations and check qualifications before hiring a tradesperson.