300,000 jobs could disappear from Czechia, retraining is needed

Labor Minister Marian Jurečka said Monday that 300,000 jobs will be lost in the Czech Republic over the next seven to eight years, and 1 million positions will undergo significant changes to their job descriptions due to digitization. As a result, investment in retraining and education, especially digital skills, is necessary.

During a visit to Karlovy Vary, Jurečka said the ministry aims to train up to 130,000 people within a year and a half.

"We have accurately measured, based on data from companies and experience abroad, that 300,000 positions as we know them will disappear in the next seven to eight years," Jurecka said. "And 1 million jobs will undergo a significant change in the nature of their work, primarily due to digitalization, where those positions will require digital competencies."

Interest in retraining and courses in Karlovy Vary has roughly doubled year on year, said Pavel Kučera, director of the region’s labor office. About 600 people have participated in retraining since the beginning of the year, with around 450 already completing it.

The Labor and Social Affairs Ministry and labor offices plan to allocate CZK 5 billion to invest heavily in human capital and support digital retraining and education. The ministry aims to provide 130,000 people with digital training over the next 18 months to increase their competence in digital technologies. Companies, non-governmental organizations, and labor offices will offer the training.

The educational e-shop jsemvkurzu.cz on the Ministry of Labor's website is also meant to assist. Nationwide,18,539 people have already entered digital training courses, and 13,379 have completed them, with a higher proportion being women.

Kučera noted Karlovy Vary has a higher percentage of "digitally excluded" inhabitants, reducing employment opportunities.