PHP Developer Hiring Trends in Zagreb, Croatia

This report was last updated on Sep 6, 2025

Bence Gedai

Founder

I analyze live hiring data and tech job trends across Europe to give CTOs and Product Leaders a strategic edge. By tracking tens of thousands of open roles each week, I uncover which skills, roles, and locations are in highest demand — potential competitors, typical time to hire, talent pool sizes, and more to help you prioritize hiring, benchmark and stay competitive in a fast-moving market.

Key learnings from this report

The Software PHP Engineers job market in Croatia, particularly in Zagreb, has experienced notable fluctuations over the past three months, with a recorded total of 37 new job openings and 28 closures, emphasizing the competitive landscape for hiring managers.
Zagreb dominates the software PHP engineering job market, accounting for 84% of all job openings, making it the primary city for hiring Software PHP Developers in Croatia.
Mid-senior level positions represent 43% of the PHP Engineer job market, while entry-level roles constitute 38%, highlighting significant opportunities for both experienced professionals and newcomers.
The current median time to hire for Software PHP Engineers in Croatia is 33 days, indicating a swift recruitment process, though hiring managers should be aware of the need to optimize their strategies due to a tightening talent pool.
The predominant employment type for Software PHP Engineers is full-time, comprising 93% of job listings, which influences recruitment strategies for CTOs and hiring managers in Zagreb's tech sector.

Number of roles opened and closed for PHP Engineers in Zagreb in the last 3 months

Over the past 12 weeks, the Software PHP job market in Croatia's capital, Zagreb, has exhibited notable fluctuations, with a peak of 7 new openings in week 32. While recruitment activity demonstrated a positive trend with a total of 37 new roles posted during this timeframe, the number of closures reached 28, indicating a competitive landscape for hiring managers. Comparatively, the closure rate for Software PHP developer positions suggests that while opportunities are burgeoning, retention and fill rates may present challenges. This trend reflects broader dynamics within Europe’s technology landscape, where demand for Software PHP Engineers continues to grow, highlighting the necessity for effective recruitment strategies focused on qualified candidates in Croatia Zagreb.

Who else is hiring for software Engineers in Croatia:

Company name	Country	Industry	Founded	# Job openings
Canonical	United Kingdom	Information Technology & Services	2004	109
EPAM Systems	United States	Information Technology & Services	1993	53
GlobalLogic	United States	Information Technology & Services	2000	26
Endava	United Kingdom	Information Technology & Services	2000	21
ENT - Ericsson Nikola Tesla	Croatia	Information Technology & Services	null	20
Q agency	Croatia	Information Technology & Services	2013	14
The Flex	United Kingdom	Real Estate	2019	12
Abysalto	null	null	null	12
Happening	United Kingdom	Information Technology & Services	2022	10
Siemens Energy	null	Renewable Energy Power Generation	2020	10

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Talent pool vs job openings for Software Engineers in Croatia

How competitive it is to hire Software Engineers in Croatia

In the competitive landscape of Europe's software engineering job market, Croatia presents a unique scenario for hiring Software PHP Engineers. With a notable number of job openings, the ratio of available talent to these positions indicates challenges in recruitment. Compared to neighboring markets like Hungary, where the job openings are significantly higher than the talent pool, and Poland, which shows a balanced ratio of job opportunities to available talent, Croatia's environment suggests that hiring Software PHP Developers could be relatively tough. Moreover, while countries like Germany showcase abundant opportunities alongside a vast talent pool, employers in Croatia may need to refine their recruitment strategies to attract the right candidates amidst a tightening talent supply.

Seniority distribution of PHP Engineer job openings in Zagreb

Seniority Distribution of PHP Engineering Jobs in Zagreb

The seniority distribution of Software PHP Engineering jobs in Croatia Zagreb reveals notable trends. Mid-Senior level positions represent 43% of the job market, indicating a strong demand for experienced professionals. Entry level roles account for 38%, highlighting opportunities for newcomers in the industry. Internship positions make up 7%, reflecting a focus on nurturing talent through practical experience.

Preferred employment type for Engineering roles in Croatia

In the Croatian engineering job market, the predominant employment type for Software PHP Engineers is Full-time, comprising 93% of the total job listings. This is followed by Contract positions at 6%, while Part-time roles account for 3%. Understanding this distribution is critical for hiring managers and CTOs in Croatia, particularly in Zagreb, as it reflects the preferences and trends influencing the Software PHP job market.

Time to Hire Distribution for Software in Croatia

How long does it take to hire Software Engineers

The time to hire distribution for Software PHP Engineers in Croatia reveals critical insights for hiring managers in the tech sector. The largest segment, with 324 counts, indicates that the majority of hires occur within a 30-day timeframe. Notably, hiring trends show substantial activity between the 25 to 35 day range, aligning with the demand for Software PHP Developers in Croatia Zagreb. Additionally, the data suggests a declining frequency of hires as the time to hire increases beyond 35 days, underscoring the competitive nature of the software job market in Croatia's capital. For CTOs and recruitment leaders, adopting strategies to streamline the hiring process may be essential to capitalize on the vibrant pool of PHP talent available in the region.

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Most popular cities in Croatia to hire Software Engineers

Top 5 cities in Croatia to hire Software Engineers

In the software PHP Engineers job market trends in Croatia, Zagreb stands out as the dominant city, accounting for 84% of all job openings. Following Zagreb, Split represents 4% of the market, while Osijek makes up 3%. The significance of Zagreb as the capital is evident, as it not only hosts the majority of opportunities but also serves as the central hub for software PHP Developer opportunities in Croatia.

Most sought after technologies in Zagreb for PHP

Key technologies for PHP Engineers

In the dynamic landscape of the Software PHP job market, particularly in Croatia, Zagreb, PHP remains the predominant technology, with a frequency of 6,396, underscoring its essential role in web development. Following closely are JavaScript and Python, with frequencies of 3,423 and 2,090 respectively, highlighting their significance in modern software solutions. The increasing utilization of SQL and MySQL, both pivotal for database management with frequencies of 1,850 and 1,874, reflects a growing demand for data-driven applications. Furthermore, frameworks such as Laravel and Symfony, with frequencies of 1,344 and 1,122, illustrate the trend towards robust, scalable applications built on PHP. For a detailed overview of technology usage in the job market, please refer to the accompanying chart.

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