Number of pensioners in FBiH increased by 8,591 in 10 months of 2025, employment must increase

(Patria) - The thematic session of the House of Representatives of the FBiH Parliament on the Information on job losses in the Federation of BiH, in the period December 2024 - September 2025, was interrupted last Friday, due to a lack of quorum for further work and decision-making. Representatives have not yet been informed about the continuation.

Given that numerous data provided in the information from the FBiH Government were read at the session, and that data from the FBiH Tax Administration is also publicly available, the authorities cannot boast about the number of jobs this year, as it is still lower than at the end of December 2024. Non-working Sunday, an increase in the minimum wage, and market changes have led to a decrease in the number of employed people.

Since the representatives referred to the number of employed people in December 2024, which was 551,452, and the number of employed people in October 2025, which was 547,520, the difference is clearly 3,932.

If we look only at this year, the difference in the number of employed people from January to October is 2,305. Data on the number of employed for November has not yet been published.

In the same period, the number of pensioners also increased, so official data shows that there are 6,058 more pensioners in FBiH from January to the end of October.

Given that pensions are paid from contributions to the Pension and Disability Insurance (PIO) fund from employees' salaries, the system is no longer sustainable with the current ratio of employed people to pensioners. Since July this year, contributions for PIO and health insurance have been reduced. However, in this situation, where the pension fund depends on contributions from employees, the Government will not proceed with further contribution reductions for some time.

At the end of October, the difference between the number of employed people and the number of pensioners was only 85,029. The ideal ratio would be three employed people for one pensioner, but FBiH is far from that standard.

Pensions for January 2025 were received by 456,433, and in February the number increased to 457,276 beneficiaries. In March, there was a decrease to 454,830 beneficiaries, and then in April it increased again to 456,103 beneficiaries, with a further increase in May when there were 458,152 beneficiaries for payment. A total of 458,632 beneficiaries received pensions in June, and the number of pensioners also increased in July to 459,570 beneficiaries. A total of 460,260 beneficiaries received pensions in August, and the number continued to increase in September to 461,857 beneficiaries and in October to 462,491 beneficiaries.

For comparison, the number of pensioners in December 2024 was 453,900 beneficiaries, meaning there are 8,591 more beneficiaries in ten months of 2025.

At the same time, the number of employed people was as follows: January 545,215 employed, February 545,130, March 542,803, April 544,613, May 546,129 employed, June 547,055, July 545,018, August 541,921 employed, September 547,065, October 547,520.