In the first quarter 2021, number of the employed amounted to 2 722 200, and number of the unemployed to 399 400. Employment rate for the mentioned period amounted to 46.3%, while unemployment rate, in the same period, had the value of 12.8%.

According to the LFS data for the first quarter 2020, relative to the fourth quarter of 2020, the number of the employed saw decrease among persons aged 15 and over (-79 500) and an increase in the number of the unemployed (+64 200) and out of the labor force population (+7 700).

On quarter-to-quarter level, the employment rate decreased by 1.3 pp and the rate out of the labor force  population increased by 0.2 pp, amounting in the first quarter 2021 to 46.3% and 46.9%, respectively. At the same time, the unemployment rate went up by 2.1 pp, amounting to 12.8% in the first quarter 2021.  

Total employment decreased by 79 500, primarily due to the decrease in the number of the employed in the informal sector, by ≈ - 68 000. The largest fall of employment was recorded in the section Agriculture, forestry and fishery (≈ -32 700), which was to be expected considering the decrease in the volume of agricultural activities in winter months.

In Region Sumadije i Zapadne Srbije the number of the employed decreased by 50 900, while that of the employed in Beogradski region recorded a slight increase (+5 200).

From 2021. Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia conduct Labor Force Survey according to the new redesigned Eurostat methodology. More information on methodological changes and their effects on major statistical indicators are available in the special publication «Labor Force Survey, new methodology 2021, on the web page https://www.stat.gov.rs/en-US/oblasti/trziste-rada/anketa-o-radnoj-snazi