As it is not a direct neighbor to Ukraine, the Czech Republic has seen fewer refugees arrive than some nations closer. But while many Ukrainians who enter the European Union via Hungary or Romania often keep going west, a lot of the recent arrivals to Czechia are sticking around. The Czech Ministry of Interior said this week that about 80% of those who came to the country have stayed on.
Now the Czech government hopes they might help ease chronic labor shortages there even if, at the moment, their impact is limited.
Czechia spent the years before the COVID-19 pandemic recruiting in spots such as Ukraine to help supplement a workforce struggling to keep pace with demand. Almost as soon as the pandemic receded, that hunt for extra workers resumed.
Driven by low wages and demographics, Czech unemployment has been among the lowest in the EU for years. In April it stood at just 3.3%, according to the labor office, which noted 360,000 vacancies were open for 250,000 unemployed locals.
At the beginning of 2022, there were already around 200,000 Ukrainians living and working in Czechia. This made life much easier for incoming refugees from Ukraine.
https://beta.dw.com/en/czech-republic-eyes-refugee-labor-boost/a-62021036
Now the Czech government hopes they might help ease chronic labor shortages there even if, at the moment, their impact is limited.
Czechia spent the years before the COVID-19 pandemic recruiting in spots such as Ukraine to help supplement a workforce struggling to keep pace with demand. Almost as soon as the pandemic receded, that hunt for extra workers resumed.
Driven by low wages and demographics, Czech unemployment has been among the lowest in the EU for years. In April it stood at just 3.3%, according to the labor office, which noted 360,000 vacancies were open for 250,000 unemployed locals.
At the beginning of 2022, there were already around 200,000 Ukrainians living and working in Czechia. This made life much easier for incoming refugees from Ukraine.
https://beta.dw.com/en/czech-republic-eyes-refugee-labor-boost/a-62021036
