Czechia Faces Shortage of 400,000 Workers by 2040 — Salespeople and Lawyers Among Those at Risk

The Czech economy is facing a serious labor shortage: by 2040, the country could be short as many as 400,000 workers, with the number of unfilled vacancies already expected to reach 190,000 by 2030. This is according to a study by consulting firm BCG and the Aspen Institute titled "The Future of the Czech Labor Market," commented on by Bohdan Vojnar, vice-president of the Confederation of Industry and Transport.

According to him, the main problem is that Czechia lags behind countries such as Finland, Sweden and Germany when it comes to continuing education for adults. Today, only one in ten adults in Czechia pursues further training, compared to one in three in Finland. According to European Commission statistics, Czechia ranks among the countries with the lowest levels of adult lifelong learning. If the state doesn't change its approach, the economy risks losing competitiveness and seeing slower GDP growth.

Which professions are at risk

According to the study, automation and the rollout of artificial intelligence could wipe out around 330,000 jobs by 2030 — on top of ordinary workforce turnover. In total, up to a million workers could be at risk. Among the most vulnerable professions are manufacturing support workers, service specialists, retail salespeople and shop staff, lawyers, foundry workers and welders, as well as warehouse and logistics employees.

At the same time, demand for skilled specialists is set to grow — construction workers, painters, equipment installers, heavy machinery operators and cooks. The share of jobs requiring at least basic digital skills is expected to rise from the current 54% to 90% by 2030. Knowledge of English will also become increasingly important.

A fragmented training system

Vojnar believes one of the main problems is the fragmentation of the entire system: authority is split between the ministries of labor, education and industry, with no unified strategy. In his view, employers are ready to take on more responsibility for identifying the market's real needs.

Dual education — which combines classroom learning with hands-on training at companies — is a separate problem, having remained stuck "halfway" in Czechia. Around the world, so-called micro-credentials — for example, from Google or Amazon — are gaining popularity and increasingly replacing formal education as a way for employers to assess candidates. According to Vojnar, this practice should become the norm in Czechia as well.

Retraining isn't working

According to Vojnar, the retraining system is outdated, too rigid, and out of step with the needs of the times — courses often teach skills nobody needs anymore. He points to Finland as an example, which has set a goal of teaching its entire population the basics of artificial intelligence. Around a million people will need retraining in the coming years, and, in the expert's view, the labor office should transform from a formal bureaucratic body into a genuine career counselor. Vojnar believes it would make sense to tie unemployment benefits to completing meaningful retraining courses — this would motivate people to develop their skills.

Read also: Free Czech language courses for foreigners: where to learn

Around Prague, based on reporting by seznamzpravy.cz