The position of women in society cannot be assessed by a single figure. The Czech Republic ranks among countries with relatively high employment overall, yet it continues to show persistent disparities in pay, lower representation of women in decision-making positions, and a significant drop in economic activity during parenthood. The prevailing work model combines lengthy parental leave, a low share of part-time employment, and more limited availability of childcare for the youngest children.

Key takeaways:

• In Czechia, inequalities between women and men in the labour market do not manifest uniformly, but emerge primarily during parenthood, when career paths gradually begin to diverge.
• Differences in income, career progression, and women’s representation in leadership positions are largely the result of a combination of parental leave design, the availability of childcare, and workplace flexibility, rather than a single specific factor.
• Gradual improvement can be expected mainly through more practical conditions for returning to work—such as part-time or reduced-hour contracts, flexible working arrangements, and clearer pay-setting rules.

Analysis – Irena Krcháková

The analysis is in PDF under the link below.