In the first quarter of 2020, number of the employed amounted to 2 877 400, and number of the unemployed to 310 300. Employment rate for the mentioned period amounted to 48.7%, while unemployment rate, in the same period, had the value of 9.7%. 

Inter-annual increase of the number of the employed amounted to 66 900, while number of the unemployed decreased to 76 800. Employment rate amounted to 48.7%, which is the increase of 1.4 percentage points (p. p.) relative to the same period 2019, while unemployment rate decreased by 2.4 p. p., reaching the level of 9.7%. In scope of total employment, informal employment decreased by 14 800, while formal employment increased by 81 700. Informal employment rate decreased by 0.9 p. p. and amounted to 16.2%. Comparing the results of the Labour Force Survey for the first quarter of 2019 with the results for the first quarter of 2020, unequal increase in regional employment is apparent in the mentioned period. In Beogradski region number of the employed increased by 41 300, while in Region Sumadije i Zapadne Srbije it increased by 31 600. Furthermore, in Region Vojvodine, the number of the employed remained on the same level, while it decreased by 6 100 in Region Juzne i Istocne Srbije. 

In the first quarter of 2020, compared with the fourth quarter of 2019, employment decreased by 60 800, whereof by 51 400 in informal sector. Employment was decreased in Region Juzne I Istocne Srbije (- 31 000), Region Vojvodine (- 27 900), as well as Region Sumadije i Zapadne Srbije (-13800), whereas in Beogradski Region, the number of employed increased (+ 11 900). Beside decrease in the employment, unemployment decreased (-3 700) and inactivity increased (+57 200). Compared with the previous quarter, employment rate decreased by 1.0 p. p., while unemployment rate remained the same, and amounted to 9.7% in the first quarter of 2020.The corona virus pandemic affected our country at the end of the first quarter of 2020, which is why its impact on labour market trends in that period is negligible. Changes in the first quarter of 2020 compared to the fourth quarter of 2019, which could be partially related to the pandemic, but also to the seasonal influence, are the increase in the inactivity rate by 1 p. p., as well as changes in the employment structure.