Czech Labour Market: Long-Standing Problems and New Challenges

The article presents an analysis of the development of the Czech labour market, taking into account demographic trends. The main long-term trends of decreasing unemployment, structural changes and maintaining their attraction for foreign actors are outlined. The negative consequences of the last two years have been assessed. A lack of certain specialists and high-qualified workers remains among the key problems of the Czech labour market which the government regulatory measures are aimed at. Changes in the financing of employment policy and transition to more effective support measures are shown. Special attention is paid to solving the ageing problem and to involving of older people on the labour market. The implemented methods of maintaining employment among this category of citizens are analysed. Operating instruments of attracting highly qualified and qualified workers in the Czech Republic, the base of which are the key programs, are considered. A selectivity of such measures, its flexibility and changing due to political reasons are shown. The role of labour migrants on the Czech labour market is shown using the example of Ukrainians. The Ukrainian labour force traditionally was engaged in lowskilled labour, mainly in construction and industry. The consequences of the influx of refugees because of the Ukrainian crisis, their current situation and consequences for the Czech labour market are analysed. Due to gender and age differences between refugees and typical labour mi grants from Ukraine there is no significant increase in the influence of Ukrainians on the Czech market. Problems of poverty, integration and employment corresponding to qualification remain. The key perspective of changes of the Czech labour market, including problems of shortage of certain categories of specialists, are designated.

labour market, Czechia, ageing, migration challenges, governmental regulation