Overview of the Czech Republic case study areas

To better understand the role of the local level in contributing to job creation and productivity, this study examine local activities in two Czech regions: 1) Ústí nad Labem and 2) South Moravia. This chapter provides a labour market and economic overview of each region as well as the results from an OECD LEED statistical tool which looks at the relationship between skills supply and demand at the sub-national level. Both areas have different local economies and labour market characteristics. Ústí nad Labem has historical industrial roots in mining and industrial production but in recent decades it has struggled to keep up with changing economic demands of the knowledge economy. South Moravia has a stronger regional economy and is the centre of the engineering industry as well as clusters of food, IT, chemical and pharmaceutical industries.