According to the latest data from Serbia’s National Employment Service (NES), 28,796 unemployed citizens received financial compensation in May 2025—about 1,000 fewer than in April, when 29,748 beneficiaries were recorded. Compared to May 2024, there was a slight increase, as 27,856 people received such aid last year.
The cities with the highest number of compensation recipients are Belgrade (4,158), Niš (2,586), Novi Sad (1,950), Leskovac (1,932), and Vranje (1,239). The southern region of Serbia, especially Niš, Leskovac, and Vranje, continues to be heavily affected by layoffs and job closures despite official claims of economic development.
Financial compensation is available only to unemployed individuals who have been compulsorily insured for at least one year (either continuously or with interruptions over 18 months) and whose employment ended under specific conditions such as technological redundancy, termination of indefinite contracts, company closure, or bankruptcy.
Excluded from this support are those whose fixed-term contracts expired, temporary or probationary workers, and those without active social insurance.
Additionally, compensation can be granted when employment ends due to a spouse’s job transfer or according to international agreements, such as termination of employment abroad.
