ÚP ČR: Unemployment rose to 4.1 % in December. In 2024, the employment office found jobs for more than 276,000 people 

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As of 31 December 2024, the Labour Office registered a total of 306 478 jobseekers, 16 053 more than in November. The share of unemployed rose to 4.1 % at the end of the year. In the year-on-year comparison, the share of unemployed was 0.4 percentage point (p.p.) higher, i.e. by 27 251 jobseekers. In December, the Labour Office of the Czech Republic provided jobs for 13 935 jobseekers, which is 31 % more than in the same period last year. Since the beginning of the year it has found jobs for 276,060 applicants (for comparison - roughly the population of Ostrava), which is a year-on-year increase of 74 % (in 2023 - 158,508 clients). More and more people are being retrained through the Job Centre, a key activity to help people get better jobs. In December, there were 162 % more retraining placements year-on-year. Since the beginning of the year, a total of 43 819 people, which is 69 % more than in the previous year (in 2023 - 25 982 clients). During the whole year 2024, the Labour Office of the Czech Republic included a total of 466 784 people in the register of job seekers, compared to 448 801 in 2023. According to the latest available data, the unemployment rate in the Czech Republic is the lowest in the EU.

Throughout 2024, the registered unemployment rate was at higher levels than in 2023 and followed the pattern of 2022. While at the beginning of 2024 the unemployment rate was 0.1 pp above the 2023 level, in the second half of 2024 this difference started to rise gradually and reached 0.4 pp by the end of December 2024. Thus, in 2024, there was no repeat of the autumn of 2023, when the unemployment rate fell and in the last three months of 2023 was at the same level as in 2022. However, it is still true that, according to EUROSTAT, the unemployment rate in the Czech Republic is the lowest in the whole EU.

"Since the beginning of this year, we have taken another significant step in digitisation, which will make life easier for a large group of citizens and make government services more efficient. The employment agenda is now also available in the Jenda Client Zone, and I am very pleased that thousands of people have already used the opportunity to submit online applications for job placement and unemployment benefits, thus saving themselves a trip to the office. As far as the current trend of unemployment in the Czech Republic is concerned, although it has slightly increased, we still maintain the lowest level in the entire European Union," said the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Marian Jurečka (KDU-ČSL).

"If we look back at the whole of last year 2024, I think there is a visible shift in the system of functioning of the whole Labour Office of the Czech Republic. We managed to provide employment for more than 276 thousand people, which is about 74 % more than in 2023.We are also succeeding in significantly increasing the number of people undergoing retraining and other educational courses, which is a prerequisite for getting the domestic labour market moving. We have also seen a surge in projects to help improve the job prospects of specific groups such as young people without work experience, older workers and people with disabilities," explains the Director General of the Labour Office of the Czech Republic Daniel Kristof.

It also outlines the priorities of the Labour Office until 2025. "I am pleased that digitalization in the employment sector will free up our capacity to really help people and actively advise our clients. And we will also increasingly use data to help jobseekers, so that we can start working intensively with those who may struggle to find a new job immediately, in particular, to help them much more quickly," adds Krištof.

"Jend and the new online employment agenda that we have incorporated into it show that the Czech state can also digitise. It is essential to set up the whole system correctly, to start preparing it in time and to test everything thoroughly and repeatedly in various forms beforehand. The fact that, in the first few days of the new system's operation, we already have about half of the applicants in this agenda online is a huge success. It is the fastest ramp-up of any digital process we have done, and it is clear that people are happy to use it because it is simply easy and convenient for them. It's still the old adage that it should be data, not people, running around the office.," recalls Karel Trpkoš, Chief Director of the Information Technology Section of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.

	12/2024	12/2023	12/2022
Share of unemployed persons in the Czech Republic	4.1 %	3.7 %	3.7 %
Number of jobseekers	306 478	279 227	271 803
Number of reachable jobseekers	284 430	256 264	247 793
Number of vacancies	246 573	271 789	288 647
Unemployment rate according to EUROSTAT (October)	2.6 %	2.9 %	2.1 %

In December 2024, the Labour Office of the Czech Republic recorded 38 637 people newly registered. In the regional comparison, the share of unemployed persons increased month-on-month in all regions except the capital city of Prague. Prague. In absolute terms the highest month-on-month increase in the number of job seekers in the South Moravian, Moravian-Silesian and Central Bohemian regions. Compared to the previous month slightly the number of job vacancies has fallen locationsto 246 573 (255 641 in November).

Over 152,000 refugees work in the Czech Republic, women dominate

According to the Labour Office of the Czech Republic (ÚP ČR), at the end of December 2024 there were a total of 152 762 valid employment relationships concluded with persons from Ukraine granted temporary protection (this is a qualified estimate). Women predominated in these employment relationships, with 93,816 (i.e. approximately 61 % employment relationships). Most of them were realized in Prague (28 955), the Central Bohemia Region (27 105) and the Pilsen Region (19 829). Most often people with temporary protection work as construction, production and transport helpers or as assemblers of products and equipment, as well as drivers and operators of mobile equipment. In certain areas, employers have thus gained much-needed workers.

At the end of December, the ÚP ČR recorded a total of 16 209 citizens of Ukraine with temporary protection (in November 15 990 persons) who applied for inclusion in the register of jobseekers (2,279 jobseekers, compared with 2,305 jobseekers in November) or for job placement (13,930 jobseekers, compared with 13,685 jobseekers in November). Of the total number of jobseekers, citizens of Ukraine with temporary protection accounted for 4.5 % (5.5 % in November). Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine until 31 December 2024, a total of 62 983 (62 265 by November) of persons with temporary protection.

Unemployment rose most in the north: in the Olomouc, Moravian-Silesian and Liberec regions

Highest share of unemployed persons (share of jobseekers aged 15-64 who are reachable) in December was in the Ústí nad Labem Region (6.2 %) and the Moravian-Silesian Region (5.8 %). These regions had the highest share of unemployed persons in the same period last year. On the contrary lowest unemployment Prague (2.8 %) and in the Pilsen Region (3.3 %).The situation changed the most year-on-year in the Olomouc, Moravian-Silesian and Liberec Regions, where the share of unemployed persons increased by 0.6 percentage point compared to December 2024. At the district level, the differences are even more pronounced. Lowest unemployment was at the end of December in the districts of Praha-východ (1.5 %), Praha-západ (1.6 %), Plzeň-jih (2.2 %) and Rychnov nad Kněžnou (2.3 %). On the other hand highest proportion of unemployed Karviná district (8.5 %), Most (8.4 %), Bruntál (8.1 %) and Chomutov (7.1 %). Compared to November, unemployment increased the most in Chrudim district (by 17.6 %).

The average unemployed person is about 43 years old and has less education

Average age unemployed in December was 42.7 years, last year it was 42.8 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 increased year-on-year in December up to 29 years old by 0.6 percentage points and in the category 50 plus by 0.4 percentage point. As of 31 December 2024, the total number of people registered with the ÚP ČR was 110 759 applicants over 50 years of age and made up 36.1 % of the total number of unemployed.

In terms of educational level, jobseekers were most often unemployed with lower qualifications, especially apprenticeships without a high school diploma and with primary education.

In the past month, job seekers 39 078 persons with disabilities (OZP) - 12,8 % of the total number of unemployed. Employers offered them a total of 11 042 vacancies. The most common positions were for cleaners and domestic helpers, security guards, production assistants and assembly workers. Changes in the structure of the unemployed by level of education show that the highest year-on-year increase in the case of registered applicants with secondary education (about 8554) and at apprentices applicants (by 7,977). As regards the breakdown by professions, at the end of December there were in the records of the ÚP ČR the most auxiliary and unskilled workersand that is 88 711.

At the end of December, the ÚP ČR recorded a total of 17 318 adolescents (aged 15-18) and school leavers of all levels of education. This is down by 396 people month-on-month and up by 2,602 people year-on-year. They accounted for 5.7 % of total unemployment (November - 6.1 %, December 2023 - 5.3 %). Within this category graduates and teenagers recorded by the Labour Office of the Czech Republic in total 11 708 graduates and total 5650 juveniles, the teenagers formed 1.8 % of the total number of jobseekers. As with other groups of job seekers at risk of long-term unemployment, the ÚP ČR pays increased attention to these clients. Career counsellors pay special attention to teenagers z Information and advice centreswho invite them for individual meetings and work intensively with the applicants.

Candidates are on the register for an average of 484 days

Over the last 12 months, 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. Year-on-year comparison the proportion of those who have been out of work for less than three months has fallen, in the total number of unemployed by 2.7 percentage points to 30.9 %. This is a total of 94 743 persons. Conversely, the share of jobseekers who have been registered for more than 12 months increased by 1.5 percentage points to 31 % (94 899 persons). Average length of registration compared to November decreased by 11 days to 484 days.

Nearly 14,000 people found a new job in December thanks to the Job Centre, almost a third more than last year

During the month of December, the Labour Office of the Czech Republic newly registered 38 637 people. This is a month-on-month increase of 598 persons (1.6 %) and a year-on-year increase of 49 persons (0.1 1 %). Most new unemployed South Moravian Region (4910) and Moravian-Silesian Region (4869). On the contrary least Karlovy Vary Region (1031). In terms of districts, the largest number of newly unemployed entered the registration of the ÚP ČR in Prague (3,083) and the smallest number in the Plzeň-South district (173). About job placement and inclusion in the register Currently, people who come from e.g. public administration and defence, retail and wholesale trade, plant and animal production, metal construction, education or civil engineering are mainly applying to the Czech Labour Office. 13 935 people found new jobs (i.e. about 31 % more than last year, 24 098 people this November). On the other hand, from the records left 22 584 applicants, i.e. 14 033 fewer persons (38.3 %) than in the previous month and 3 fewer persons than in December 2023. New job Retrieved from 15 831 people.

30 % registered jobseekers receive unemployment benefits

Unemployment benefits were received in December 93 403 people, which represents 30.5 % of all jobseekers (November 2024 - 29.7 %, December 2023 - 30.9 %). The number of jobseekers eligible for unemployment benefits increased by 7,056 persons year-on-year. On average, jobseekers received 11 396 CZK per month (November - 11 477 CZK). Unemployment benefit up to 4500 CZK received 2489 (2,7 %) persons. These are mainly clients who came to the registration of the Office of the Czech Republic, for example, after the end of parental leave, were caring for a loved one or were temporarily unable to work after the end of gainful employment. Maximum amount of aidthat is to say 24 608 Kč, then in December the ÚP ČR paid 4479 (4.8 %) to job seekers.

In December 2024, according to preliminary data, the ÚP paid out a total of CZK 1 061 393 thousand in unemployment benefits and retraining. CZK 1 057 716 thousand in November 2024.

The number of vacancies has dropped due to winter, employers are looking for employees in Prague and the Central Bohemian Region

At the end of the previous month, employers offered a total of 246 573 job vacancies, 9,068 fewer than in November and 25,216 fewer than a year ago (down 9 %). There are currently about 1.2 job seekers per vacancy in the Czech Republic. Of these, the highest number were in the districts of Karviná (11.4), Hodonín (7.8), Děčín (6.9) and Bruntál (6.6). At 73.8 % of the reported vacancies employers are looking for candidates with primary or lower education, 68 % are vacancies suitable for foreigners. Employers have according to the records of the Labour Office of the Czech Republic most often interested building construction workers, assembly workers, forklift truck operators and warehouse workers, cooks, truck and tractor-trailer drivers or cleaners. Highest demand new employees are needed in Prague (73,744 jobs) and in the Central Bohemian Region (45,948 jobs). Since January, there has been a significant drop in the number of vacancies, as the legislative regulation whereby vacancies are automatically removed from the database after six months is taking full effect. The Office of the Czech Republic is assisting in a key activity, which is labour market monitoring, employers filling vacancies, as well as jobseekers with job placement. Among other things, it organises selection procedures for companies, thematic seminars or helps with retraining.

Active employment policy: almost 44,000 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. Through active employment policy instruments (APZ) as at 31 December, a total of 13 504 job seekers and job applicants (this is the total number of all jobseekers or jobseeker applicants who were using any of the EES instruments at the end of December 2024).

For example, at the end of December, there were people working as part of community service (VPP) 376 people. Employment 5284 people were supported with funding under the Dedicated Socially Useful Jobs (SUMP). For axis employers have created completely new jobs, under which the ÚP ČR contributes to their equipment (SÚPM). 585 former jobseekers were in private business at the end of December 2024 with support obtained through the SUTP.

A commuter allowance also helps with the return to the labour market. In December 2024, the ÚP ČR supported 362 people. The ÚP also pays increased attention to persons with disabilities (PWD), who are also provided with employment support allowances. At the end of December, the following were supported in this way 321 OZP.

An important tool APZ are retrainingwhich the Labour Office of the Czech Republic uses to financially assist not only job seekers but also job applicants, i.e. those who have a job. As of 31 December 2024, the following people were participating 4330 persons (as of 31.12.2023 it was 1652 people, i.e. 162 % more year-on-year). Total retraining starts for the whole year 2024 43 819 clients, which is 69 % more than in 2023 (25 982 clients).

Here the most frequently implemented retraining are Czech language courses for foreigners, digital skills including artificial intelligence and courses aimed at obtaining specific professional certificates. There is also interest in performance of public service. In total, the ÚP has contracted 5608 positions with its organizers, primarily municipalities, non-profit organizations, primary and kindergarten schools, and libraries. Most of them are in the Ústí nad Labem Region (1937) and the Moravian-Silesian Region (1390). 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.

Public service in December, a total of 3,217 people. It is mainly carried out 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, in the case of performance of more than 30 hours per month, participants also receive an increase in the minimum on which the amount of the living allowance is calculated. The Labour Office of the Czech Republic welcomes new public service organisers. Information for organisers and clients can be downloaded here: https://www.uradprace.cz/web/cz/pomoc-v-hmotne-nouzi .

Information on unemployment trends is published on www.mpsv.cz/web/cz/mesicni .

ÚP ČR/ gnews.cz - RoZ

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