Despite the multidimensional crisis that lasts almost 3 years, Serbia has managed to preserve the stability of its economy and the consumers and investors’ confidence, as evidenced by cumulative real GDP growth in the period 2020-2022 of around 9%, record inflows of FDI, as well as a record level of FX reserves. According to National bank of Serbia, projected growth rate of Serbia’s GDP for this year at 2.0-3.0%. Projected GDP growth for 2024 ranges from 3% to 4%, and in the medium-term National Bank of Serbia expects a return to pre-crisis growth rates of 4%. Current CAD projections in 2023 is EUR 3.1 bn (4.5% of GDP). Owing to product and geographic diversification and export-oriented investments, goods, and services exports in 2022 increased by more than 30%, while the y/y growth in Q1 2023 was around 20%. In March 2023 public debt of central government stood at the level of 51.0% of GDP. In May, the NBS kept the key policy rate at 6.0% as the full-fledged effects of past monetary measures should be considered in conditions of gradual weakening of cost-push pressures from the international environment and easing of disruptions to global supply chains. Banking sector stability has been preserved and further reinforced. The share of NPLs stood at 3.00% in March 2023. [1]

According to National Employment Agency, the unemployment rate in 2022 was 9.4%, which is the lowest recorded level to date. Formal employment continued to grow at the beginning of 2023 (2.9% y/y in the period January-March).  Despite continued growth of employment and wages in the private sector, Serbia is still considered a country that offers a wide availability with a unique combination of high quality and low costs Serbian workforce, with an average gross monthly salary RSD 117.669 (approx. EUR 1.000^[2]) Current gross minimal salary is RSD 57.274 (approx. EUR 490). For young people the Serbian labour market is still characterized by low employment and activity rates. Without sufficient development and financial perspective, highly qualified Serbian citizens, possessing excellent knowledge and technical skills, tend to look towards other countries (mainly EU Member States) for employment opportunities.