Population ageing, rapid digital and AI progress, and the green transition are reshaping the world of work. These megatrends are expected to drive significant shifts in employment across firms, sectors, and regions. While these changes bring potential challenges for older workers who may be at risk of losing their job, they can also open up opportunities for career advancement, higher wages, and better-quality jobs. With longer lifespans, many workers may also rethink their career ambitions, including seeking new roles before retirement after years in the same job or switching to more flexible jobs that support skill development while accommodating health and caregiving needs later in their careers. Creating supportive frameworks that enable workers to navigate this transition effectively is crucial to harness the benefits of these transformative changes and to address the associated challenges. Pressing labour and skills shortages further intensify the need for supporting mid-career workers in moving into growing sectors and occupations.
However, many mid-to-late career workers still face significant barriers when attempting to change jobs or careers. In Czechia, job mobility is very low and, as in many other OECD countries, it declines substantially with age. Factors such as limited access to training, outdated job-search skills, financial vulnerability, and health constraints often stand in the way. Removing these barriers is essential to supporting longer, more fulfilling working lives and maintaining a dynamic economy and inclusive workforce.
The report builds on the OECD’s March 2024 cross-country study, Promoting Better Career Choices for Longer Working Lives, and is the third in a series exploring country-specific challenges, policies, and practices in selected OECD countries. Other countries covered include the United Kingdom, Austria, Belgium, and the United States. The report highlights job mobility trends in Czechia as workers age, identifies the key barriers to progression for mid-to-late career workers, and offers targeted policy recommendations. Its goal is to support experienced workers in continuing to contribute meaningfully to the economy, while also enhancing their career satisfaction and personal well-being.