The Croatian Pension Insurance Institute (HZMO) said on Friday that the number of insured persons had increased for the sixth month in a row, with the number of insured persons standing at 1,606,533 on 31 July 2021, 3.36% or 52,203 insurees more than on the same day in 2020.

Compared with the end of July of the pre-pandemic year 2019, the number of insurees was up by 6,128.

Most insurees were registered in the manufacturing industry (246,149) and wholesale and retail trade (244,888).

Compared to June 2021, the number of insurees increased the most (+8,177) in the provision of accommodation and food preparation and serving.

Compared to the same period of 2020, the number of insurees grew the most in the provision of accommodation and food preparation and serving (+8,968), construction (6,776) and the manufacturing industry (4,985).

Compared with July 2019, the number of insurees in the construction sector in July 2021 was up by 11,763, and an increase was also reported in the ICT sector, with 5,798 insured persons more compared to 2019 and 3,734 insurees more than in 2020, the HZMO said.