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 Czech Republic: Job market
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What are my chances of getting a job?As a relatively new addition to the EU community, the Czech Republic is keen to open up opportunities to European citizens within its country. There are lots of graduate opportunities in the Czech Republic through international companies who have offices there, especially in Prague. - Typical problems encountered: as in most post-Communist countries, bureaucracy in the Czech Republic may occasionally slow down official processes, but citizens of the EU should not encounter many difficulties.
- How to improve your chances: The biggest asset for getting a job in the Czech Republic is a good understanding of the Czech language. Tourism remains a lucrative and growing business in the Czech Republic. There are many ties to the UK in this industry, so tailoring your skills to the tourism sector is a good option for those without Czech language skills.
- Language requirements: English and German are widely spoken, with English being better known by younger people, but the ability to speak and write Czech is still an important requirement for job seekers. A wide variety of Czech language courses is available in Prague.
back to top Where can I work?- Major industries: automotive industry; the leisure and lifestyle sector; IT/telecommunications/electronics - driven by the deregulation of fixed-line telephone services, the growth of the mobile phone sector, data services, and demand for local hardware production; financial services - major international players in all fields from banking to management consultancy.
- Recent growth areas: an ambitious programme of privatisation and deregulation was started in preparation for EU accession and is on-going. The dramatic growth in the services sector has led to a shortage of some skills, and specialised manual workers are particularly in demand. The tourist industry continues to expand.
- Major companies: ČEZ, Agrofret Holdings, Agropol Group, Zentiva, Škoda , Budvar , Pilsner Urquell. Many of the large organisations in the Czech Republic are international and not home grown.
- Search for more companies: Kompass Czech Republic, British Chamber of Commerce Czech Republic, local chambers of commerce that have special links with the Czech Republic (details are available at Chamber Online), Europages, and the Czech Yellow Pages.
- Major cities: Prague (capital city), Brno, Plzen, Ostrava and Olomouc.
back to top What’s it like working in the Czech Republic?- Average working hours: 39 hours per week.
- Holidays: typically, 20 paid days holiday per year.
- Average graduate starting salary: CZK187,248 (around £9,066) per annum. However, salaries are generally higher in Prague, where there is also a large commuter workforce.
- Tax rates: there is a flat rate of income tax at 15%, due to be reduced to 12.5% in 2009. Everybody working in the Czech Republic pays social and health insurance contributions.
- Working practices and customs: business meetings are booked well in advance, and arranged by a fax or formal letter. The country has a complex legal system left over from its Communist days, and bureaucracy may delay many business transactions. There is also a fairly laid back, thoughtful approach to business, so do not expect snap decisions. Business cards are recommended; they should include your academic qualifications and should preferably be in Czech.
back to top What are the next steps?
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