The Czech Republic’s labor market continues to draw workers from abroad, with more than 1.08 million foreign nationals now employed legally in the country.

The estimate, based on data from the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, points to steady but modest growth in the foreign workforce.

The country still ranks among those with a relatively low share of foreign workers compared with other members of the OECD, a group of 38 developed economies. In Western Europe, foreign participation in the labor market is significantly higher.

One sector stands out. Construction employs a large share of foreign labor, with roughly one in five workers coming from abroad. Out of a workforce exceeding 400,000 people, Ukrainians account for about 10 percent.

Another 10 percent are Slovaks and workers from countries in the Eastern Balkans, including North Macedonia.

Industry representatives warn that demand for labor will rise further as large-scale infrastructure projects move forward. Among them is the planned expansion of the Dukovany nuclear power plant, which is expected to place additional pressure on an already stretched workforce.

Jiří Nouza, head of the Association of Construction Entrepreneurs, said the sector’s stability depends on faster visa processing and less bureaucracy. Without changes, companies may struggle to secure enough workers to meet future demand.

Employment in agriculture and forestry has declined, with around 135,000 people currently working in those fields. By contrast, nearly two million people are employed in industry and construction combined. The services sector has seen the strongest growth, adding more than 100,000 workers last year to reach close to 3.5 million employees.

Wage levels remain below the OECD average. After a period of high inflation that pushed Czech earnings to under 70 percent of the OECD benchmark, the gap has yet to close. The current average monthly wage, around CZK 52,000, still trails countries such as Lithuania and Slovenia. It remains higher, however, than in Slovakia and Hungary, where wage levels stand at 59 percent and 57 percent of the OECD average respectively.

Another weak point is youth employment. Fewer than one in four people under the age of 24 are working, placing the Czech Republic among the lower-ranking countries in the European Union, alongside Greece and Italy.

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