Young Czechs work more than ever, yet barely make ends meet, despite having a good level of education. Although they should, according to statistics, be almost living a fairy tale life about their economic situation. Young adults now make up a smaller percentage of job seekers in the Czech Republic, leading some to believe that finding a job and making a living is not an issue for the younger generation. However, this is not entirely true.
According to Jakub, a 25-year-old economics graduate, finding work was surprisingly tricky, taking him about four months. Although he completed university successfully, he kept his feet on the ground and did not have excessive financial demands when seeking his first job. When he was born in the late 20th century, it would have been even harder to find work, with people his age representing over 37% of all job seekers. This percentage has decreased by over 20 points in less than a quarter of a century.
Many young people work while they study. For example, 22-year-old Michaela from Prague, who studies in Brno, found it easy to get a job thanks to her communication skills and friends already in the labor market. She even had offers in her field of study. However, “the problem is that the position needs to fit my schedule,” she explained.
“I often couldn’t do a nice job because there simply wasn’t enough time while I was studying,” she continued. “On the other hand, I needed money to support myself and pay for housing, so I worked in gastronomy for a long time, mainly in cafes, where I could take weekend shifts.” Many of her friends are in a similar situation.
Although Michaela admits that the financial rewards “are not great,” tips significantly boost her income when working behind a bar. As it also prolongs her studies, she can gain work experience during the week. “I was offered a better position, but I will be moving to another city, so I cannot accept it and will soon be looking for a new job.”
While young people in the Czech Republic are finding work, it is still not an easy feat, and they often work multiple jobs and long hours to make ends meet. Despite this, many still struggle to support themselves financially, highlighting the need to improve the job market and salary levels.