Stable inflation and expected growth in household consumption bring optimism
Employers in the Czech Republic anticipate improving hiring intentions for the third quarter of 2025, with a Net Employment Outlook (NEO) of 13 percentage points. This outlook has improved by 3 points since the last quarter and has also strengthened by 5 points since this quarter last year. Globally, the Czech Republic ranks relatively low for its employment expectations, sitting 11 points below the global average.
“The threat of tariff wars has injected further uncertainty into the economy, but it has not spilled over into hiring plans for Q3. According to ManpowerGroup’s Labour Market Index survey, the pace of growth in demand for new hires will increase slightly, particularly in Communications Services, Retail and Finance. Caution continues in Industry and Logistics, but even there the number of employers planning to hire prevails,” says Jaroslava Rezlerová, Managing Director of ManpowerGroup Czech Republic.
Industry sector comparisons
Czech organizations in 8 of the 9 sectors forecast increasing staffing levels in the next quarter, while employers in 1 sector expect a decrease. Compared to the last quarter, employment expectations have strengthened in 5 sectors and fallen in 4 sectors. Looking back to Q3 2024, employment expectations have strengthened in 6 sectors and decreased in 3.
The Communication Services sector is the most competitive in the Czech Republic, with a very high employment outlook of 57, increasing significantly by 80 points since the last quarter and by 28 points since Q3 2024. This quarter marks the highest NEO recorded in the Czech Communication Services sector since tracking began in Q1 2022. Globally, the Czech Republic ranks first for its employment expectations in the Communication Services sector, above the average global NEO by 42 points.
Regional comparisons
Czech organizations in all 3 regions expect an increase in staffing levels in Q3 2025. Since the last quarter and this time last year, employment expectations have strengthened in 2 regions and fallen in 1.
The manufacturing-driven Bohemia region is the most competitive in the Czech Republic, with a NEO of 18. This region reports the greatest growth in employment expectations from last quarter and this time last year, with increases of 6 and 11 points, respectively.
Organisation size comparisons
All 6 organization sizes expect increasing staffing levels in the upcoming quarter. Since the last quarter, employment expectations have strengthened in 3 organization sizes and fallen in 3. Compared to Q3 2024, staffing environments have strengthened in 4 organization sizes and decreased in 2.
Czech employers in very large organizations of 1000-4999 employees are the most optimistic with a NEO of 22, rising significantly by 27 points since the last quarter but falling slightly by 4 points since Q3 2024. Organizations with 5000+ employees also reported a large increase in expectations since the last quarter, with a 20-point rise.
Global overview
The Q3 2025 ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey (MEOS) gathered responses from 40,671 hiring decision-makers across 42 countries and territories. The data collection took place throughout the month of April 2025. At this time, the global economy faced a renewed downturn driven by a highly unpredictable environment including significant policy shifts, escalating trade tensions, diminishing business sentiment, and downward revisions to growth forecasts. In this context, employer optimism waned, contributing to caution in hiring and even some workforce reductions.
With further expected weakness ahead, the global employment outlook fell. The seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlook (NEO) dropped to 24, reflecting a 1-point slip from last quarter, although the figure is still 2 points above this time last year. This means that while global hiring is still resilient, it has slowed down from last quarter.
In conclusion, the findings of Q3 2025 Employment Outlook paint a picture of increasing caution among employers and businesses globally. The pervasive uncertainty stemming from trade tensions, policy shifts, and a weakening economic outlook has clearly dampened employer optimism. This has translated into a slowdown in hiring momentum, where declining employment outlooks and rising layoff figures signal a cautious approach to hiring decisions.
More information available on www.manpowergroup.cz
