Youth Unemployment in the Czech Republic

Mila Larionova, Sofiya Yudenko, Elizaveta Nechaeva

“We are entering the era of

youth unemployment, which, if left unaddressed, will put a brake on economic growth around the world, and will fundamentally change the way we approach workforce challenges.”

Jean Charest, Premier of

Quebec, World Economic Forum “Global Talent Risk Report”, 2011.

Total unemployment and youth unemployment (below 25) rates in the Czech Republic compared to the EU-27 and Germany (percentage).

2004-2008

• Steady economic growth

• Low level of unemployment

• 8.3% in 2004 to 4.4% in 2008

Czech Republic was a “benchmark” for youth employment

Youth unemployment in the Czech Republic grew rapidly, from 9.9% in 2008 to 16.7% in 2009. It reached 18.1% in 2011

Central Bohemia Region on the map of Czech Republic

Gender distribution of respondents

Age distribution of respondents

Students’ qualification

Work experience

Way of getting a job

Possible reasons of unemployment in the

country from the viewpoint of young people:

What could be best practices applied in

practice in viewpoint of young people

Interviews

5 groups of interviewed people:• Unemployed youth• Employed young people• NGO representatives• Labor market experts• Business sector representatives

“We have so much knowledge that in fact means nothing, but we don’t have any qualification”

Katerina, unemployed

Previous Employment

70%

30%

a. Yes

b. No

“Mostly companies don’t even invite people for interviews. They are receiving hundreds of CV’s for one position”

Alina, employed

5%

54%

58%

7%

15%

55%

5%

5%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

A lack of jobs

A lack of practice

jobs are, but it is a great competition

I’m absolvent inapplicable in the job market

consequence of the economic crisis

inexperience with obtaining of jobs

full-time student

Other

NGO interviewees

• Orientation on social services• Main firms in region offer only low-paid

jobs - Work on 12 hour

shifts - Low wages - Manual workload• Young people flew to bigger cities

(Prague, Kolin)

“Young people live in their ideal world for a long time and they are not ready for the hard reality”

Tatiana Bastianova

expert, APIS Nymburk

Important skills

• Making good CV• Developing presentation skills• Good manners (punctuality,

language, etiquette)• Being active

Business representatives

• High salary expectations• Insufficient self-management• Low job-specific experience• More willing to explore different

opportunities before settling • Lower opportunity cost for resigning

Best practices

Trade Union

Škoda Auto

This school offers above all:

• Employability of graduates• Relevant professional experience• Participation of experts in teaching

ŠKODA AUTO

Bachelor Degree Graduates

Master Degree Graduates

Grant program ŠKODA AUTO 2013

Thank you for attention!