In August, the number of job seekers increased by 4,123 to a total of 333,624, and the unemployment rate increased to 4.5%. That is 47,304 more when compared to the same period of 2024.
Among the districts, unemployment was highest in the districts of Most (9.5 %), Karviná (9.3%), Chomutov (7.6%), Bruntál (7.2%), Sokolov and Ostrava (both 7.1%) and lowest, i.e. below 3%, in the districts of Prague-East and Prague-West, but also in Rychnov nad Kněžnou and Pelhřimov.
August, like July, brought an increase in the unemployment rate. People were less actively seeking jobs during the summer months, and companies limited hiring due to holidays and a reduced demand for seasonal workers. The number of people registering with employment offices also grew, a consequence of expiring seasonal contracts and subdued demand for white-collar roles. Unfavorable weather conditions, with cold and rainy days alternating with heat waves, also played a role—the tourism sector and seasonal sales recorded weaker performance, which further dampened the labor market and demand for temporary workers. During hot days, job seekers often postponed interviews.
However, the current rise in unemployment is not necessarily a cause for concern. It is part of a broader trend of the labor market gradually returning to equilibrium after many years of overheating. The Czech labor market is still exceptionally strong, and this transition is a necessary prerequisite for its long-term stability.
The Czech Republic remains the country with the second-lowest unemployment rate in the EU. According to July data from the European statistics office Eurostat, only Malta has a lower figure.
As at the end of August 2025, the Czech Labour Office registered a total of 95,117 vacancies. That is 436 less than in the previous month. On average, there were 3.5 applicants per vacancy, with the highest number of applicants in the districts of Karviná (23.1), Sokolov (18), Děčín (13) and Hodonín (12).
Employers are most often interested in forklift operators and warehouse workers, building construction workers, truck and tractor drivers, cooks, assembly workers, or cleaners, according to the records of the Czech Labor Office.
Unlike the statistics on registered unemployed, data on job vacancies from the labor office do not provide a comprehensive picture of the entire labor market, as many positions are advertised and filled through other platforms.
In the 2nd quarter of 2025, the average gross nominal monthly salary* (hereinafter “average salary”) was CZK 49,402, which is CZK 3,583 (7.8%) higher than in the same period in 2024. Consumer prices increased by 2.4% during this period, and real wages increased by 5.3% as a result. The amount of salaries increased by 8.2%, and the number of employees grew by 0.4%. Compared to the previous quarter, the seasonally adjusted average salary grew by 2.2% during the 2nd quarter of 2025.
Compared to the same period of the previous year, the median salary (CZK 41,115) increased by 7.2%, which corresponds to CZK 44,465 for men and CZK 37,935 for women. Eighty percent of employees received salaries between CZK 22,283 and CZK 80,856.
source: MPSV, ČSÚ, ÚP ČR
* calculated to the number of employees in the national economy