Abstract: The information and communication technology (ICT) sector significantly shapes the direction and movement of the economy today. This paper will investigate the role of ICT in shaping the labor market and its contribution to economic growth in the European Union and the Republic of Croatia. The primary research focuses on the number of people employed in the ICT sector, employment trends by type of ICT job, the total number of employed, and employment projections. Secondary data will be used for a detailed analysis, including sources from Eurostat, the Croatian Bureau of Statistics, and the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training. Using descriptive statistics and comparative analysis, the paper analyzes the share of employed persons in the ICT sector, unemployment rates by occupation, and the expected growth of the sector. The results indicate a linear growth in the share of ICT employees in Croatia, low unemployment among ICT professionals, and a correlation between ICT sector growth projections and the share of ICT in the GDP of EU countries. The aim is to demonstrate whether there is a clear correlation between economic growth and the development of the ICT sector, and to highlight the differences in the employability of ICT professionals across the European Union.

Keywords: demographic trends, economic growth, ICT sector, labor market, employment