Fewer Job Ads, More Applications: Which Specialists Remain in High Demand in Serbia

The Serbian job market is offering fewer openings for highly qualified specialists, even as employers continue to struggle to find people with narrow, advanced skills.

Infostud data show that about 18% fewer advertisements for such positions appeared in the first half of 2026 than in the first half of 2024. At the same time, the average number of applications per advertisement climbed from around 63 in 2024 to nearly 79 in 2025 and approximately 82 this year.

The number of postings fell from 17,424 in the first half of 2025 to 16,574 in the same period of 2026, a decline of about 5%. That decrease was slower than the fall over the previous two years, but the total remained below the 20,083 advertisements recorded in the first half of 2024.

Developments in information technology played a major role. IT vacancies dropped by about 45% compared with the first half of 2024, accounting for roughly 38% of the overall reduction in the broader group. Yet demand has not disappeared. Machine-learning specialists, technical team leaders and IT architects remain among the roles attracting relatively few applications. Employers have more choice for common IT positions, while advanced specialists remain harder to find.

The decline also extends beyond technology. Excluding IT, the number of advertisements for the other roles in the analysis was about 13% lower than two years earlier. Engineering remains a notable exception. Construction-engineering vacancies in the first half of 2026 were almost unchanged from 2024 and about 22% higher than in 2025. Mechanical engineers also remained sought after, while industrial demand continued across manufacturing, energy, mining and metallurgy. The figures may inform young people choosing their education and workers considering a career change, although no degree guarantees employment.