These are the most in-demand jobs in Czechia

While high unemployment looms over some European countries, companies in the Czech Republic are struggling to fill vacant positions. 

According to the recent Eurostat data, Czechia has the highest job vacancy rate in Europe, with 5.3 percent of the total number of posts being vacant, followed by the Netherlands (4.9 percent), Belgium (4.8 percent), and Austria (4.7 percent). In comparison, the EU's average job vacancy rate stands at 2.9 percent.

The hot job market in the Czech Republic makes it a perfect time to build a career, ask for a raise, or find a more suitable position. 

Meanwhile, employers find it increasingly difficult to fill their vacancies, with some positions being more in-demand than others. A recent survey by ManpowerGroup shows that 49 percent of Czech employers face problems filling the vacancies.

Among the most in-demand jobs in Czechia are IT (28 percent), manufacturing (20 percent), transport and logistics (18 percent), sales and marketing (16 percent), administrative support (13 percent), front office (12 percent), and HR (11 percent).

The survey also identified the skills that are most important in times of rapid change and great uncertainty. These include creativity and originality (24 percent); responsibility, reliability, and discipline (22 percent); logical thinking and problem-solving (20 percent); resilience, ability to manage stress, and adaptability (20 percent); collaboration and teamwork (19 percent); critical and analytical thinking (18 percent); learning and curiosity (18 percent); initiative (17 percent); and leadership and social influence (15 percent).

"The fact that every other employer finds it difficult to fill their vacancies remains a major obstacle to the competitiveness of Czech companies. However, compared to 2018–2021, employers experienced some relief," Jaroslava Rezlerová, CEO of ManpowerGroup  ČR a SR, said.

Another factor that may partially explain the reacceleration of labor in the Czech market after the pandemic subsided could be attributed to the involvement of Ukrainian refugees, according to Rezlerová. "They have helped fill vacancies in industry, logistics, gastronomy, and agriculture,” she said.

Some 57 percent of large companies with over 250 employees are experiencing difficulties in finding suitable candidates, compared to 42 percent of micro-companies with up to 10 employees.

Meanwhile, the global average for companies having an employee shortage is at its highest since the survey began in 2006. Due to the technological revolution and the changing structure of positions, 76 percent of companies worldwide report a shortage of talent. 

The largest shortages of skilled workers are in Taiwan (88 percent of companies), Portugal (85 percent), Singapore (84 percent), China (83 percent), and Hong Kong (83 percent). The lowest levels of talent shortages are in the Czech Republic (49 percent), Slovakia (56 percent), Colombia (61 percent), and Panama (64 percent).