Female employment boosts Czech labor market in Q4 2024

The Czech labor market saw a significant rise in employment in the fourth quarter of 2024, with 116,600 more people working year-on-year, primarily driven by an increase in female employment, according to data from the Czech Statistical Office (CZSO).

The number of working women grew by 118,200, marking a key driver of overall employment growth. The most notable increase occurred in the 45–59 age group, particularly among 50–54-year-olds, where employment rose by 58,700 people, a 9.2% increase. Employment also expanded among those aged 30–44, while the 25–29 age group saw a decline of 31,100.

Employment by Sector and Occupation

The number of employees increased by 151,100 (3.6%), while the self-employed workforce declined by 36,900. The agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector saw a modest rise of 5,100 workers, while the industrial and construction sectors gained 35,900 jobs. The services sector led employment growth, adding 75,600 jobs, particularly in public administration, defense, and social security (39,200) and health and social work (31,200). Conversely, job losses were seen in professional, scientific, and technical activities (-27,300) and finance and insurance (-16,400).

By occupation, the strongest growth was in the professional category (+81,700) and technicians and associate professionals (+24,500), while clerical support roles declined (-13,100).

Increase in Part-Time Work

The trend toward part-time work continued, with 40,000 more people in such roles, bringing the total to 483,300—a 9% increase year-on-year. Women accounted for 70.3% of part-time workers, mainly in healthcare, education, and retail. Many cited caregiving responsibilities as a reason for choosing part-time jobs. Among men, who make up 5% of the part-time workforce, most worked in manufacturing and retail.

Stable Unemployment Rate

The unemployment rate remained at 2.6%, with 133,500 unemployed people—a slight increase of 300 year-on-year. Female unemployment rose by 2,000, while male unemployment declined by 1,700. The Jihočeský Region recorded the highest increase in unemployment (+2,600), followed by Liberecký and Olomoucký regions (+2,000 each). The Moravskoslezský Region had the highest unemployment rate at 4.4%, while the lowest rates were in the Středočeský (1.3%) and Pardubický (1.4%) regions.

Economic Inactivity and Workforce Trends

The number of economically inactive individuals aged 15+ grew by 19,700, reaching 3.46 million. While male economic inactivity increased by 45,900, the number of inactive females dropped by 26,200. The number of people not actively seeking employment but expressing a desire to work fell to 77,000.

With employment continuing to rise, particularly among women and professionals, and unemployment remaining low, the Czech labor market remains stable heading into 2025. However, shifting workforce trends, including declining self-employment and increasing part-time roles, highlight the need for ongoing policy adjustments.

Source: Czech Statistical Office