Czechia ranks among top countries in EU for young adults: Here's why

Czechia has emerged as one of the EU’s best countries for young adults, thanks to its low unemployment rate, relatively affordable living costs, and a safe social environment, according to a recent study conducted by tech firm Alorix. 

The study assessed various factors in its methodology, including employment opportunities, rental affordability, crime rates, relative cost of living, education levels, and overall happiness. It sourced data from official sources such as Eurostat.

One of the main reasons Czechia ranks highly is its low unemployment rate. At just 2.8 percent, it is the lowest among all EU countries, indicating strong job availability for young professionals. 

Safety also contributes to Czechia's popularity. It has the second-lowest crime rate among the top 10 countries (and the fifth-safest overall in the study). Czechia has an above-average score in the happiness index section of the study, ranking higher than neighbors Poland and Germany, as well as besting Cyprus, but scores lower than Finland and the Netherlands. 

The cost of living in Czechia is relatively low compared to some Western European nations. Renting an apartment outside the city center in Prague takes up a significantly smaller percentage of an average salary compared to countries like Ireland or Portugal, where rent costs can exceed 70 percent of monthly wages.

However, renting in the city center paints a different picture. In sum, the average young adult in Czechia spends about 50 percent of their income in housing—lower than in Denmark, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, but higher than in Romania and Finland. 

People in Czechia can purchase 363 Big Macs from fast-food chain McDonald's according to Alorix, which is fewer than most other top-10 countries, even lagging behind Romania. 

Despite its strengths, the study also notes that Czechia lags in higher education attainment, with fewer than average young adults possessing a bachelor's degree. Concerningly, it has the fourth-west education score out of all EU countries. 

However, the country compensates for this with strong vocational training programs and a robust labor market that offers good job prospects without necessarily requiring a degree, according to the study.