A stable unemployment rate is typical for the holiday season, and employers usually do not make significant staff changes in view of the holidays. Already at the end of August, the expected return to work of employees from the education sector became apparent. In August, 3232 unemployed people started working for educational institutions as their new employer. Thus, education was the sector with the highest number of unemployed entrants in August, followed by wholesale trade by a wide margin, and then catering and hospitality.
"Changing jobs often brings higher pay. The Job Centre can help not only the unemployed, but also those who are working and looking for a new opportunity. All can benefit from generous retraining allowances, especially in digital skills. They can then decide whether to put their new skills to work in their current job or go elsewhere for their dream job.," says the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Marian Jurečka (KDU-ČSL).
Director General of the Labour Office of the Czech Republic Daniel Kristof on the current situation on the labour market says: "At the end of August and the beginning of September we always register an increased number of graduates and teenagers at the Labour Office. They accounted for 4 % of the total number of jobseekers in August, the same percentage as in 2022 and 2023. Our primary concern is that young people continue their education. Our experts specialising in youth employment can also advise on retraining, digital courses and also apprenticeships with subsidy. This subsidy will enable the employer to ensure that the primary aim of the apprenticeship is for the young person to actually gain qualifications and work experience. This is because at the beginning of their careers, young people do not have to worry too much about choosing a particular job; they can postpone this until they choose their next job. We know that income will then increase with the next job change in the vast majority of cases," explains Krištof. He also reminds us that school leavers and young people who have not yet gotten a job should register with the Czech Labour Office, otherwise they will have to pay for their own health insurance.
"People are often worried about changing jobs. This is doubly true if they register with the unemployment office and take unemployment benefits after leaving their job. But data show that fears are often unnecessarily exaggerated. In fact, jobseekers typically manage to find a job with a wage 8 % higher. That is, it is as if they get one extra month's pay each year with their new employer. Even those you wouldn't expect to earn more by changing jobs, for example, women in their forties who left their previous jobs involuntarily or for serious reasons, typically earn as much as 11 % by changing jobs," he points out Jiří Šatava, Director of the Employment Policy Department of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.
| August 2024 | August 2023 | August 2022 | |
| Share of unemployed persons in the Czech Republic | 3.8% | 3.6% | 3.4% |
| Number of jobseekers | 286 320 | 260 803 | 251 753 |
| Number of reachable jobseekers | 264 675 | 238 249 | 229 187 |
| Number of vacancies | 263 247 | 281 207 | 312 327 |
| Unemployment rate according to EUROSTAT (July 2024) | 2.7% | 2.9% | 2.3% |
In August 2024, the Labour Office of the Czech Republic (ÚP ČR) recorded 34 866 people newly registered. In the regional comparison, the share of unemployed persons increased month-on-month in four regions. In absolute terms the highest number of job seekers in the Moravian-Silesian and South Moravian regions. Compared to the previous month slightly the number of job vacancies has increased locationsto 263 247 (262 026 in July).
A large number of refugees in the Czech Republic work, mostly women
According to the Labour Office of the Czech Republic, at the end of August 2024 there were a total of 136 373 valid employment relationships concluded with persons from Ukraine granted temporary protection (this is a qualified estimate). Women predominated in these employment relationships, with 84,410 (i.e. approximately 62 % employment relationships). Most of them were realized in the Central Bohemia Region (24 046), in Prague (19 982) and in the Pilsen Region (18 508). Most often people with temporary protection work as construction, production and transport helpers or as assemblers of products and equipment, and as operators of stationary machinery and equipment. In certain areas, employers have thus gained much-needed workers.
At the end of August, the ÚP ČR recorded a total of 15 430 citizens of Ukraine with temporary protection (in July 15 367 persons) who applied for inclusion in the register of jobseekers (1 911 jobseekers, compared to 1 771 jobseekers in July) or for job placement (13 519 jobseekers, compared to 13 596 jobseekers in July). Of the total number of jobseekers, citizens of Ukraine with temporary protection accounted for 4.7 % (4.8 % in July). Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine until 31 August 2024, a total of 58 555 (56,672 by July) persons with temporary protection.
One of the most common barriers to the exercise of skilled professions is the language barrier for this group of clients. The Labour Office of the Czech Republic therefore offers citizens from Ukraine with temporary protection, among other things, assistance with financing retraining courses in Czech language for foreigners, where a total of 14,645 citizens from Ukraine with temporary protection have joined so far (since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine) and 12,033 of them have already graduated. In August 2024, 407 citizens from Ukraine with temporary protection started the course (526 in July, 618 in June, 797 in May, 849 in April, 926 in March, 903 in February and 544 in January) and 434 of them successfully completed the retraining in this month.
Unemployment rose in all regions and in 4/5 districts
Highest share of unemployed persons (share of jobseekers aged 15-64 who are reachable) was in August in the Ústí nad Labem Region (6.0 %) and the Moravian-Silesian Region (5.4 %). These regions had the highest share of unemployed persons in the same period last year. On the other hand, the lowest unemployment was in Prague (2.9 %) and in the Pilsen and Vysočina regions (3.0 %). in the Olomouc Region, where the share of unemployed persons increased by 0.7 percentage point compared to August 2023. The differences are even more pronounced at district level.
Lowest unemployment was at the end of August in the districts of Prague-East (1.5 %), Prague-West (1.7 %), Plzeň-South (2.1 %), Benešov, Rychnov nad Kněžnou and Pelhřimov (2.2 %). On the other hand the highest proportion of unemployed people report Most (8.5 %), Karviná (8.3 %), Chomutov (7.1 %) and Bruntál (6.9 %).
Women account for more than 55 % of unemployment, the average age of the unemployed is almost 43 years
Of the total number of registered jobseekers, the following were 158 943 women, these thus formed 55.5 % of the total number of jobseekers. The proportion of unemployed men remained at 3.3 % and the proportion of unemployed women increased to 4.3 %.
Average age unemployed in August was 42,9 years old, last year it was 43,1 years. The age structure of job seekers has not changed significantly over the last five years. And even over the past 12 months there have been only slight changes.
The share of unemployed persons in the age group up to 29 years increased by 0.7 percentage point year-on-year in August. By contrast, the 50-plus category saw a decline of 0.2 percentage point. As of 31 August 2024, a total of 103 134 jobseekers aged 50+ were registered with the Office of the Labour Office and accounted for 36.0 % of the total number of unemployed.
In terms of educational level, jobseekers with lower qualifications, especially those with an apprenticeship without a high school diploma and primary education, were most often unemployed.
In the past month, 37,996 persons with disabilities (PWD) - 13.3 % of the total unemployed - were looking for work. Employers offered them a total of 10 470 vacancies through the Office of the Czech Republic. The most frequent positions were for security guards, cleaners and domestic helpers or assembly workers.
Changes in the structure of the unemployed by level of education show that the highest year-on-year increases were recorded for applicants with an apprenticeship (by 7293) and for applicants with a primary education (by 7001). As regards the breakdown by occupation, at the end of August the largest number of auxiliary and unskilled workers were registered with the Office of the Czech Labor Office (83 363).
At the end of the previous month, the ÚP registered a total of 12 692 minors (aged 15-18) and school leavers of all levels of education. This is an increase of 827 people month-on-month and 1,897 people year-on-year. They accounted for 4.4 % of the total unemployment (July - 4.2 %, August 2023 - 4.1 1 %). Within this category of graduates and juveniles, the Labour Office registered a total of 8188 graduates and 4526 juveniles (July - 4817, August 2023 - 3851); juveniles accounted for 1.6 % of the total number of job seekers. As with other groups of jobseekers at risk of long-term unemployment, the ÚP CR pays increased attention to these clients. The career counsellors from the Information and advice centreswho invite them for individual meetings and work intensively with the applicants.
Candidates are on the register for an average of 497 days
The structure of jobseekers according to the length of time they have been registered with the Office of the Labour Office of the Czech Republic has changed over the past 12 months. In a year-on-year comparison, the share of those who have been unemployed for less than three months in the total number of unemployed fell by 1.2 percentage points to 30.3 %. This is a total of 86 711 persons. In contrast, the share of jobseekers who have been registered for more than 12 months increased by one percentage point to 31.0 % (88 892 persons). The average length of registration increased by two days compared to July to 497 days.
The Labour Office managed to find jobs for almost twice as many people - in August it helped 19,995 job seekers
During August, 34 866 people newly registered with the Labour Office of the Czech Republic. This is a month-on-month decrease of 6,546 people (15.8 %) and a year-on-year increase of 223 people (0.6 %). The Moravian-Silesian Region (4605) and the South Moravian Region (4242) report the highest number of new unemployed. In terms of districts, the largest number of newly unemployed entered the register of the ÚP ČR in Prague (3803) and the smallest number in the Jeseník district (124). Currently, people who come from the fields of education, retail trade, public administration, defence and social security, wholesale trade, health care, production of basic metals or metal structures and metalworking products, for example, apply for job placement and registration with the Labour Office of the Czech Republic. In August, the Labour Office of the Czech Republic managed to place 19 995 people on the labour market (81.4 % more than last year, compared to 18 405 in July).
On the other hand, 31,557 jobseekers left the register, i.e. 472 more (1.5 %) than in the previous month and 1,216 fewer (3.7 %) than in August 2023. 23,051 people got a new job. Many of them found employment in education, retail and wholesale trade, health care, public administration, and fabricated metal products.
Less than a third of registered jobseekers receive unemployment support
In August, 88 591 persons received unemployment benefits, which represents 30.9 % of all jobseekers (July 2024 - 30.9 %, August 2023 - 29.8 %). The number of jobseekers eligible for unemployment benefits increased by 10 800 year-on-year. On average, jobseekers received CZK 11 567 per month (July - CZK 11 472). Unemployment benefits up to CZK 4,500 were received by 3,506 (4.0 %) persons.
These are mainly clients who have come to the registration of the Office of the Czech Republic, e.g. after the end of parental leave, caring for a loved one or were temporarily unable to work after the end of gainful employment. The maximum amount of support, i.e. CZK 24,608, was paid by the ÚP ČR to 4,492 (5.1 %) jobseekers in August.
In August 2024, according to preliminary data, the ÚP paid out a total of CZK 1 066 620 thousand in unemployment benefits and retraining. In July 2024, a total of CZK 996,017 thousand will be available.
The number of vacancies increased month-on-month for the first time since March, employers are looking for the most people in Prague and the Central Bohemian Region
At the end of the previous month, employers offered a total of 263 247 vacancies through the ÚP ČR, 1,221 more than in July and 17,960 fewer than a year ago (down by 6 %). On average, there are currently about 1.1 jobseekers per vacancy in the Czech Republic. Of these, most are in the districts of Karviná (10.5), Bruntál (6.0), Hodonín (5.8) and Děčín (5.7). For 73.5 % of the reported vacancies, employers are looking for candidates with primary or lower education, while 69.2 % are vacancies suitable for foreigners. Employers are most often interested in building construction workers, assembly workers, forklift truck operators and warehouse workers, cooks, truck and tractor-trailer drivers and cleaners. The highest demand for new employees is in Prague (79 622 jobs) and in the Central Bohemian Region (51 511 jobs).
Within the framework of its key activity, which is labour market monitoring, the ÚP helps employers to fill vacancies as well as job seekers with job placement. Among other things, it organises selection procedures for companies, thematic seminars or helps with retraining.
Active employment policy: over 25,000 retrained since the beginning of the year
The ÚP of the Czech Republic pays increased attention to all groups of applicants and candidates at risk of long-term unemployment. As of 31 August, a total of 11 125 jobseekers and jobseekers were supported through active employment policy (AEP) instruments (this is the total number of all jobseekers or jobseekers who used any AEP instrument at the end of August 2024).
For example, 463 people were working as part of community service at the end of July. The employment of 5,669 people was supported by funds under the Dedicated Socially Useful Jobs (SÚPM). For five people, employers created completely new jobs, under which the ÚP ČR contributes to their equipment (SÚPM). Another 534 former jobseekers were running their own businesses at the end of August 2024 with the support provided under SÚPM. A commuting allowance also helps in the return to the labour market. In July 2024, 276 people were supported by the ÚP in this way. The ÚP also pays increased attention to persons with disabilities (PWD), who are also provided with employment support allowances. At the end of the previous month, 294 PWD were supported in this way. An important instrument of the APZ is retraining, which the Labour Office of the Czech Republic uses to financially assist not only job seekers but also job applicants. As of 31 August 2024, 2,783 people had participated in them (1,166 as of 31 August 2023, i.e. 139 % more year-on-year). A total of 25,108 clients have started retraining since the beginning of this year, of which 11,667 have been retrained under digital training funded through the National Recovery Plan.
The most frequently implemented retraining are Czech language courses for foreigners, computer courses and courses aimed at obtaining driving licences, including professional qualifications. There is also interest in public service. In total, the ÚP ČR has contracted 2,482 positions with its organisers, mainly municipalities, non-governmental non-profit organisations, primary and nursery schools and libraries. Most of them are in the Ústí nad Labem Region (908) and the Moravian-Silesian Region (557). These are not only activities to ensure the cleanliness of streets and other public spaces and greenery, but also activities that people perform during publicly accessible sporting, cultural and similar events. Last but not least, public service also takes place in the form of auxiliary activities in the provision of social care (e.g. outpatient and field social services), etc.
A total of 3,178 people joined the civil service in August. The public service is mainly performed by people in material need, who thus fulfil the obligation of activation and efforts to increase their income through their own work. The benefit is that, if they work more than 30 hours a month, they also receive an increase in the minimum subsistence allowance on which the amount of the living allowance is calculated.
Information on unemployment trends is published on www.mpsv.cz/web/cz/mesicni
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