Unemployment Benefits in Serbia
People insured for at least 12 months (continuous, or in the last 18 months) who lose their job can get the unemployment cash benefit (novčana naknada) from the National Employment Service (NSZ), for 3 to 12 months depending on their insurance record.
✓ From official pages ✓ Each part says when we checked
At a glance
Национална служба за запошљавање (National Employment Service, NSZ)
NSZ call centre
The job market in Serbia
The International Labour Organization's estimates put Serbia 128th lowest of 183 countries for unemployment in 2025; the world's rate was 4.9%.
Serbia's unemployment rate over the years · every country, ranked
What to do first
- Register with the public employment service, Национална служба за запошљавање (NSZ). Official page
- Apply for Unemployment cash benefit (новчана накнада за случај незапослености): register with NSZ and apply in person or online through the e-Government portal. Official page
- Keep up with the job-search rule while you claim (below), and keep a record of where you applied.
- Questions: call 0800/300-301 (NSZ call centre).
Unemployment cash benefit (новчана накнада за случај незапослености)
How much. A personal coefficient (from previous earnings) multiplied by the daily benefit base, within the minimum and maximum daily amounts.
For how long. 3 months (1 to 5 years of insurance), 6 months (5 to 15 years), 9 months (15 to 25 years), 12 months (more than 25 years).
How to claim. Register with NSZ and apply in person or online through the e-Government portal.
From an official page, read October 25, 2026.
Looking for work while you claim
A person receiving the unemployment cash benefit must report in person to the National Employment Service every 30 days, in line with their individual employment plan, to hear about job opportunities and placement. Changes that affect the right must be reported within 5 days.
- Register with the National Employment Service
- Report in person every 30 days
- Follow the individual employment plan
- Report changes within 5 days
Reporting. In person at the National Employment Service every 30 days.
From an official page, read October 25, 2026.
Keep my work search record for Serbia
Free. It lists where you applied and what else you did to look for work, each line ready to copy into the form you report on. It is your own record: we send nothing to any government.
Help finding work
- The public employment service: Национална служба за запошљавање (NSZ)
Jobareer emails new jobs in Serbia as they come in: jobs in Serbia.
New jobs in Serbia
Every job in Serbia, and job alerts emailed as new ones come in.
Who to call
NSZ call centre: 0800/300-301.
From an official page, read October 25, 2026.
Questions
Is there unemployment benefit in Serbia?
Yes: Unemployment cash benefit (новчана накнада за случај незапослености), paid by Национална служба за запошљавање (National Employment Service, NSZ).
How much is unemployment benefit in Serbia?
A personal coefficient (from previous earnings) multiplied by the daily benefit base, within the minimum and maximum daily amounts.
How long does unemployment benefit last in Serbia?
3 months (1 to 5 years of insurance), 6 months (5 to 15 years), 9 months (15 to 25 years), 12 months (more than 25 years).
How do I claim unemployment benefit in Serbia?
Register with NSZ and apply in person or online through the e-Government portal.
Do I have to look for work while I claim in Serbia?
A person receiving the unemployment cash benefit must report in person to the National Employment Service every 30 days, in line with their individual employment plan, to hear about job opportunities and placement. Changes that affect the right must be reported within 5 days.
Who do I call about unemployment in Serbia?
NSZ call centre: 0800/300-301.
Where can I get help finding a job in Serbia?
The public employment service is Национална служба за запошљавање (NSZ).
Nearby countries
Albania
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Croatia
Gibraltar
Greece
Italy
Kosovo
Malta
Montenegro
North Macedonia
Portugal
San Marino
Slovenia
Spain
Vatican City
Where this comes from
Every part of this page was read on an official website, and each links the page it came from and the day we checked it. Rules and amounts change, so check that page before you rely on a figure. Jobareer is not part of any government and cannot see or change a claim.
See also: unemployment rate by country · Serbia's unemployment rate · unemployment in the US, state by state.