In recent years the labour market has been significantly affected by an ambitious programme of privatisation and deregulation, which began in preparation for joining the European Union. The dramatic growth in the services sector has led to a shortage of some skills, and specialised manual workers are particularly in demand. In general the unemployment in the larger cities is relatively low and Prague has almost full employment. However, wages tend to be relatively low.

The economic structure of Prague, however, is very different from other regions; not only are wages and salaries higher, but there is also a large commuter workforce. The ability to speak and write Czech is an important requirement for job seekers, although English and German are widely spoken. Prague, furthermore, offers plenty of opportunities for teachers of English.