Policy context for employment and skills in the Czech Republic

The Czech Republic has made significant progress toward creating a stable and attractive climate for investment following its transition to a private market economy. Its unemployment rate is significantly lower than the EU average and while the recent economic crisis has increased joblessness, its impact has been less than in many other EU countries. However, long-term unemployment has been persistently higher than the EU27 average and women are also much less likely than men to participate in the labour market. While youth unemployment remains lower than the EU average, it is a growing concern as young people find it increasingly difficult to integrate into the labour market. Since 2008, the Czech Republic has introduced significant reforms within the employment and training system, which has altered the institutional landscape and the way in which policies and programmes are managed at the local level.