The number of foreign workers in Serbia is steadily increasing, currently estimated at around 70,000, with projections to reach 100,000 during the next two years as preparations for Expo 2027 intensify. Most foreign workers come to Serbia for infrastructure projects financed by their home countries, often living isolated from Serbian society without family, and usually without making Serbia their permanent home.
Data from the Republic Institute of Statistics, based on information from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, show that about 41,000 foreigners arrived in Serbia in 2023 primarily for work. Construction is a key sector employing many foreign workers, with nationalities including Turks, Indians, and Chinese. However, a significant number work illegally: during labor inspections in 2023, 7,482 foreign workers were found, with 611 lacking proper work permits. Most of these were Turkish nationals.
The majority of foreign workers are employed by Serbian companies rather than foreign parent companies. Serbian labor laws require that foreign workers receive wages equal to domestic employees, although wage disparities sometimes occur, especially for workers sent abroad.
Experts see foreign labor as a cost-effective solution to Serbia’s labor shortages, with foreign workers typically living separately, sending their earnings abroad, and placing little demand on social services. The Open Balkans initiative aiming for a unified labor market has yet to produce significant worker exchanges.
The largest groups of foreign residents in Serbia are Russians (around 23,000), Chinese (6,500), and Turks. The influx of Russians has grown dramatically over the past decade, with many moving to Belgrade and coming for work rather than marriage, which was a common reason previously. Turkish workers are largely connected to major infrastructure projects like the Moravian Corridor, and Chinese workers also engage in infrastructure and industrial enterprises in cities like Bor and Zrenjanin.
Foreign residents in Serbia tend to be young adults, mostly between 25 and 45 years old, and men slightly outnumber women. In 2023, over 100,000 foreigners had either permanent or long-term residence permits. Among them, Russians make up over half, followed by Chinese citizens.
Additionally, 234 children were born in Serbia in 2023 to foreign parents, mostly Russians and Chinese, reflecting the growing integration of foreign communities in the country.
