PHP Developer Hiring Trends in Zagreb, Croatia

This report was last updated on Aug 16, 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 job market in Croatia Zagreb has demonstrated a notable fluctuation in job postings, with a peak of 42 new jobs in week 21, contrasting sharply with just 2 new postings in week 22.
Zagreb accounts for an impressive 88% of the total job openings for Software PHP Engineers, solidifying its position as the primary hub for such opportunities in Croatia.
There are 113 roles offered by Canonical, followed by 26 by EPAM Systems and 23 by GlobalLogic, highlighting these companies as key players in recruiting Software PHP Engineers within the Zagreb region.
The median time to hire for Software PHP Engineers in Croatia is currently 33 days, emphasizing the need for efficient recruitment strategies to attract top talent swiftly.
The current competitive landscape poses challenges for hiring managers, with the ratio of talent to job openings indicating increased difficulty in securing skilled Software PHP Developers, necessitating an adaptation of recruitment strategies.

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

The Software PHP job market in Croatia Zagreb has exhibited notable fluctuations over the past 12 weeks. With a peak of 42 new job postings in week 21, the demand appears to have dwindled significantly in subsequent weeks, most notably in week 22, which saw only 2 new jobs posted. In comparison, the average number of jobs closed weekly has been consistently high, peaking at 28 closures in week 24, suggesting a critical imbalance between job creation and elimination. This trend stands in contrast to the broader European landscape, where many countries are experiencing a more stable flow of new opportunities for Software PHP Engineers, indicating potential recruitment strategies that may need revisiting for CTOs and hiring managers in Croatia Zagreb's tech sector.

Who else is hiring for software Engineers in Croatia:

Company name	Country	Industry	Founded	# Job openings
Canonical	United Kingdom	Information Technology & Services	2004	113
EPAM Systems	United States	Information Technology & Services	1993	26
GlobalLogic	United States	Information Technology & Services	2000	23
ENT - Ericsson Nikola Tesla	Croatia	Information Technology & Services	null	19
EY	United Kingdom	Professional Training & Coaching	1989	10
Abysalto	null	null	null	10
Endava	United Kingdom	Information Technology & Services	2000	9
Bugatti Rimac	Croatia	Automotive	null	9
Q agency	Croatia	Information Technology & Services	2013	9
IBM iX DACH	Germany	Management Consulting	2015	8

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Talent pool vs job openings for Software Engineers in Croatia

How competitive it is to hire Software Engineers in Croatia

The talent market for Software PHP Engineers in Europe reveals distinct disparities among various countries. In Croatia, the ratio of available talent to job openings indicates a relatively challenging hiring landscape, especially when compared to countries like Poland and Germany, where the job-to-talent pool ratio is more favorable for hiring managers. With the number of job openings in Croatia closely aligning with the available talent, the competition for skilled Software PHP Developers is intensifying, making recruitment strategies critical for CTOs and Engineering Managers. In contrast, nations like Romania exhibit a higher talent pool compared to job openings, suggesting a more accessible environment for hiring skilled software professionals. As the demand for skilled Software PHP Engineers increases, understanding these regional dynamics will be essential for optimizing recruitment strategies and leveraging talent opportunities in Croatia's tech sector.

Seniority distribution of PHP Engineer job openings in Zagreb

Seniority Distribution of PHP Engineering Jobs in Zagreb

In the Software PHP job market in Croatia Zagreb, the distribution of roles indicates significant demand at varying seniority levels. Mid-Senior level positions make up 50% of the opportunities, followed closely by Entry level roles at 42%. Internship positions constitute a smaller segment, accounting for 7% of the available jobs, reflecting a clear trend in hiring Senior Software PHP Developers within the region.

Preferred employment type for Engineering roles in Croatia

In the Croatian tech sector, particularly within the Software PHP Engineers job market, the predominant employment type is full-time, comprising 93% of positions. Contract roles account for 6% of the market, while part-time opportunities represent 2%. This distribution underscores the strong demand for stable, long-term positions among Software PHP Developer opportunities in Croatia, especially in urban centers like Zagreb.

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 indicates a notable trend that hiring managers must consider. The majority of hires occur within the 25 to 30-day range, with 294 positions filled at 30 days and 218 at 25 days. This suggests that recruitment strategies for CTOs in Croatia's tech sector should prioritize efficiency within this timeframe. Furthermore, there is a gradual decrease in successful hires as the time to hire extends beyond 35 days, highlighting potential challenges in attracting top talent as wait times increase. Understanding these trends is essential for tailoring recruitment strategies and enhancing the chances of securing skilled Software PHP Developers in Croatia, particularly in the Zagreb market.

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Most popular cities in Croatia to hire Software Engineers

Top 5 cities in Croatia to hire Software Engineers

In the current landscape of the Software PHP Engineers job market trends in Croatia, Zagreb stands out prominently, accounting for 88% of the total job openings. Following Zagreb, the broader region of Croatia contributes 10% to the available positions, while Split, Osijek, and Remote opportunities represent 4%, 3%, and 3% respectively. This data underscores Zagreb's vital role as a hub for Software PHP Developer opportunities in Croatia.

Most sought after technologies in Zagreb for PHP

Key technologies for PHP Engineers

The software PHP job market in Croatia, particularly in Zagreb, showcases a discernible preference for key technologies that drive development practices. As illustrated in the accompanying chart, PHP stands out as the most prominent programming language, with a frequency of 5,625 mentions, underlining its central role in local development initiatives. Following PHP, MySQL is frequently utilized, noted 1,649 times, reflecting its importance in database management within PHP applications. JavaScript and HTML also play significant roles in the web development landscape, with frequencies of 2,983 and 1,342 respectively, showcasing their necessity for dynamic and responsive user interfaces. Laravel, with 1,168 mentions, further indicates a trend towards popular PHP frameworks that enhance development efficiency. This data signals to hiring managers the importance of these technologies when considering recruitment strategies for Software PHP Engineers in Croatia Zagreb.

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