The share of unemployed increased to 3.8% due to December’s unfavourable seasonality. After seasonal adjustment, the share remained virtually unchanged. The data thus suggest that the problem of finding a sufficient labour force has become critical for some businesses. The highest unemployment is still in Karviná district (8.1%), yet it is still a lower figure that the euro area average (8.7%). The number of vacancies increased despite unfavourable calendar effects when it printed 216,629. The number of job seekers and vacancies is thus almost equal.

The CZSO also released its labour market survey. According to the figures, the unemployment rate (ILO methodology) dropped to 2.5% after seasonal adjustment and thus remains the lowest in the whole EU.   

The unfavourable calendar effect will impact the share of unemployed also in the first months of this year. The share should thus increase to 3.9% according to our preliminary estimates. In March, unemployment is set to turn south again and later during the year will create new lows when by reaching 3.3%.