How Czechia’s labor shortage is driving demand for foreign workers

Czechia may boast one of the lowest unemployment rates in the EU, yet many employers still face a growing challenge: finding qualified candidates for key roles. Over six in 10 companies report difficulty filling positions, according to new findings from recruitment firm Manpower.

Expat workers and internationals in Czechia are now a core focus for firms, with employers turning to skilled foreigners to plug gaps in their workforces. Despite high demand, administrative and bureaucratic hurdles continue to hinder recruitment efforts for foreigners, Manpower says. The data points to the roles companies are struggling to fill most, and why hiring from abroad is becoming a key part of the solution.

One of the main drivers behind the shortage is the shrinking labor pool. Each year, significantly more people leave the labor market than enter, with around 40,000 workers disappearing annually. Manpower’s Employment Outlook Survey for Q2 2026 reveals that Czechia’s labor shortage is a long-term challenge rather than a short-term disruption.

“The recruitment of foreign workers continues to be hampered by administrative barriers,” summarizes CEO of ManpowerGroup Czech Republic Jaroslava Rezlerová.

It typically takes around three quarters of a year to recruit a qualified non-EU worker, Manpower says, which continues to delay hiring in sectors already facing shortages.

The findings also show that without investments in automation and AI , companies risk losing competitiveness: this year, almost one-quarter of all companies plan to upskill and reskill staff, Manpower reveals.

According to Manpower, worker shortages are already clearly visible in construction, industry, services, and gastronomy, where companies continue to have orders but lack enough workers to meet demand. As a result, costs are rising and delivery times are getting longer.

The research also finds that companies frequently struggle to fill positions in manufacturing, engineering, IT, and sales, while healthcare roles and teaching positions are increasingly difficult to staff.

The Czech Chamber of Commerce found that 51 percent of Czech firms cited a "lack of qualified workers" as their number one barrier to growth. But it’s not just about hiring anyone.

She also cites that “highly qualified specialists, technicians, engineers” as well as “skilled trades have been in short supply for a long time," and that it is "practically impossible to fill these positions from among the unemployed, as their qualifications often do not match the needs of companies."

Czechia now relies on expat workers and foreigners, who are often technically highly skilled, to fill the gaps. At the same time, Manpower warns that without faster visa processing and adjustments to recruitment quotas, labor shortages will continue to weigh on economic growth. 

There is an upside: Czechia last month revealed a new economic strategy focused on boosting growth and competitiveness, with particular attention on attracting foreign workers to fill critical gaps in key sectors, according to governmental plans. 

Manpower’s findings also show that, despite talent shortages, the tech and IT services sector (with the highest share of white-collar foreign workers in the country) is planning to hire more people in 2026.

Czechia’s labor shortages are concentrated in sectors that depend on specialized skills and experience, particularly in technical roles and essential services. For international workers, these gaps continue to shape where opportunities are most accessible, as employers look beyond the domestic labor pool to fill positions that remain persistently hard to staff.