As stated in the research Youth and Entrepreneurship in the Republic of Serbia (Mladi i preduzetništvo u Republici Srbiji, 2020), in Serbia, small and medium enterprises and entrepreneurs have become main carriers of economic growth. In general, Serbian economy is showing certain advancement on the world lists of competitiveness, innovation, business development and the like. 

In the latest report, the Global Innovation Index for 2025, Serbia ranks 54th out of 139 countries. However, it ranks 7th among the top 10 economies in its income group (upper-middle income). 

The total number of employees in 2025 was 2,364,301, representing a slight decrease compared to the previous year. However, from 2018 onwards, there has generally been a steady increase, with this being the only exception. In 2025, compared to the previous year, the number of employees decreased, while the number of entrepreneurs, their employees, and self-employed individuals increased by a similar margin. (Registered employment, 2025, Statistical release by Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia). 

When it comes to the unemployment rate, it has been declining in recent years, reaching 8.9% of the total population in the fourth quarter of 2025. According to the annual Labour Force Survey, the unemployment rates for the period 2021–2024 are as follows: 

Source: Rates of activity, employment, out of labour force and unemployment, by sex and age (from 2011) 

Although overall unemployment has been declining, it remains relatively high among young people. The number of active young people in 2024 decreased compared to the previous year, while the employment rate has fluctuated, showing both slight decreases and increases over time. 

The NEET rate (representing the share of young people aged 15–30 who are neither in employment nor in education or training) stood at 15.2% in 2024, marking a decrease compared to the previous year (NEET rates by by highest completed education level, sex and age groups, from 2021) 

Data from 2020 show that when it comes to self-employment, young people in Serbia rarely choose it their first choice.  In this respect, young people in Serbia do not differ much from their peers in the EU. According to available research by the International Labour Organization, there are different reasons why young people choose self-employment: 

Source: Transition of young women and men in the labor market of the Republic of Serbia in Youth and Entrepreneurship in the Republic of Serbia, 2020

The current employment policy is defined by the Employment Act (Zakon o radu, 2005; last amendment 2025). Additionally, the Law on Employment and Unemployment Insurance (Zakon o zapošljavanju i osiguranju za slučaj nezaposlenosti, 2009; last amendment 2021) is another important piece of legislation in this field. Together, they define key employment-related concepts. 

In addition to above mentioned Laws, there are several strategies and accompanying action plans and programmes that are related to the youth employment and entrepreneurship. Most important are: 

Although there is no single definition of entrepreneurship or entrepreneurial competence in the listed legislative documents, strategies often refer to European policy recommendations and guidelines, among others, entrepreneurship competence framework, such as EntreComp.