A Country with non-Existent Unemployment. The Special Characteristics of the Czech Labour Market
A Country with non-Existent Unemployment. The Special Characteristics of the Czech Labour Market

Author(s): Krzysztof Dębiec
Contributor(s): Ilona Duchnowicz (Translator)
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, Social Sciences, Economy, National Economy, Governance, Sociology, Labor relations, Economic policy, Economic development, Human Resources in Economy
Published by: OSW Ośrodek Studiów Wschodnich im. Marka Karpia
Keywords: Czech Republic; labour market; human resources; unemployment rate; workforce shortage; automation of production processes;
Summary/Abstract: Since 2016, the Czech Republic has had the lowest unemployment rate among all EU member states (cf. Chart 1). In mid-2017, it overtook Japan to reach the top position in the ranking of OECD member states. This situation adversely affects companies which are looking for ways to cope with workforce shortages. One solution is the automation of production processes, but employers are also appealing for the country to become more open to receiving immigrant workers, above all from Ukraine. The trade unions are opposed to this, fearing that an influx of workers from other countries will slow down the rate of increase of wages. At the same time, there is a debate in the Czech Republic about the degree to which the present economic model contributes to the country catching up with the Western economies and what should be done to speed up the convergence.

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