Despite having the lowest unemployment rate in the European Union, the Czech Republic is facing a significant shortage of workers in certain professions. Manual labor jobs, such as craftsmen, construction workers, drivers, waiters, and cooks, are particularly affected. This trend is partly due to the increasing interest of Czechs in specialized positions.
According to the Labor Office, there are over 280,000 job vacancies in the Czech Republic, with the demand for manual professions declining the most. The president of the Association of Employment Agencies, Radovan Burkovič, notes that there is a lack of skilled craftsmen and technical workers. To fill these positions, companies often resort to importing unskilled labor from abroad.
The number of craftsmen and repairmen has decreased by 27% over the past 30 years, from 1.1 million to 800,000. In the last decade, other manual professions have also seen a decline, including machine operators, technical workers, and non-specialized administrative staff. On the other hand, the number of specialists has doubled from 500,000 to one million over the same period.
This shift in the employment structure reflects a growing preference for jobs with higher added value. The demand is particularly high for back-office functions, such as finance, human resources, marketing, and sales specialists, as well as IT and engineering professionals in various industries.
To address these changes in the job market, many Czechs are turning to retraining programs. The number of requalifications helping job seekers find better employment has increased by 139% compared to the previous year. The Labor Office offers generous contributions for retraining, especially in digital skills, not only to the unemployed but also to those looking for new opportunities while currently employed.
Looking ahead, the Czech job market is expected to favor those who can adapt to two key trends: accelerating technological development and the green transformation of the economy. Experts predict a high demand for workers qualified in energy, electrical engineering, and healthcare sectors. The IT industry remains the most competitive, with an increasing demand for services related to cybersecurity, EU legislation, and the implementation of artificial intelligence in business processes.