A significant drop in interest for enrolment in secondary schools for the profession of nurse and technician has been recorded in the Dalmatia region. For the new 2026/2027 academic year, nearly 50 places designated for this educational profile remain unfilled. These are first-year secondary school classes, representing an alarming signal for the future staffing of the healthcare system.
The total number of places available for enrolment was 274 students. However, actual turnout was significantly lower, resulting in two entire classes remaining completely unenrolled. These vacant places relate exclusively to secondary vocational education programmes for nurses and technicians.
The geographical distribution of unfilled places shows that the situation is most pronounced in the Split-Dalmatia County. Half of all unfilled capacities, precisely one class, belong to schools in that area. The remaining places are distributed among other secondary educational institutions across the wider Dalmatia region.
This local problem reflects a broader national crisis in the healthcare sector. Across Croatia, there is currently a shortage of 4000 nurses and technicians. The staff shortage is not limited to hospital wards but is also felt in other healthcare and social institutions throughout the country.
Experts and trade unions cite low salaries for nurses and technicians as the primary cause. Insufficient financial incentives deter young people from choosing this profession, despite the constant demand for healthcare workers. Without systematic measures to improve working conditions, the trend of declining enrolment interest is likely to continue.
