Recruiting specialists is becoming increasingly difficult. Companies are looking for technical talent with soft skills

The Czech labor market is undergoing significant change. The fastest growing group of employees are specialists, whose number has more than doubled over the past thirty years. At the same time, companies are finding it increasingly difficult to fill technical, production and logistics positions and, in addition to professional knowledge, are increasingly valuing the ability to learn new things, adaptability and working with modern technologies. This is evident from current data from ManpowerGroup.

The number of specialists on the Czech labor market has been growing for a long time and today they represent the largest professional group. While in 1993 there were approximately 500 thousand specialists in the Czech Republic, their number currently exceeds 1.1 million. On the other hand, the number of traditional crafts and some manufacturing professions has been declining for a long time.

"The Czech labor market is shifting from searching for specific professions to searching for specific skills. Companies today need employees who can combine professional technical knowledge with flexibility, the ability to learn, and orientation in new technologies. It is this combination that will determine the success of candidates and companies in the coming years," says Jakub Klimeš, Director of Specialist Recruitment at ManpowerGroup Czech Republic.

The biggest shortage is in IT, technical and manufacturing professions

According to the ManpowerGroup Talent Shortage Survey, the hardest-to-fill positions are IT specialists, production workers, operations management experts, and engineering. Companies also report a shortage of specialists in sales and marketing, administration, and HR.
The most sought-after professions in 2026 include software developers, cybersecurity specialists, data analysts, and data engineers. In the manufacturing and technical sectors, companies are most often looking for electrical engineers, service technicians, maintenance technicians, mechatronics engineers, CNC operators, and welders.

Organizations have long had the biggest problem finding technical skills. Almost a third of employers report a shortage. This is followed by specific skills in production, logistics, operations management, sales, and marketing, or IT.

AI is changing employee requirements

The development of artificial intelligence and digitalization plays a significant role in the transformation of the labor market. According to the Future of Jobs Report 2026 by the World Economic Forum, the fastest growing skills by 2030 will include skills related to AI and working with data, cybersecurity, and technological literacy.

However, in addition to technical competencies, the importance of soft skills will also grow. Companies will increasingly require creative thinking, analytical skills, adaptability, resistance to change, and a willingness to continuously learn.

“Paradoxically, the more technology enters companies, the more valuable are the skills that are purely human. Technical knowledge is today a ticket to the labor market, but the long-term competitiveness of employees will be determined by their ability to learn, collaborate, and adapt to change,” adds Jakub Klimeš.

Candidates are more open to changing jobs

For employers, the positive news is that the number of people open to new job opportunities is growing. According to LinkedIn data, the number of users of this professional network has increased by 34% in the last five years, and the number of people who are actively declaring interest in new job opportunities has increased by 73% year-on-year.

Nevertheless, competition for qualified workers remains high. Recruitment activity in some sectors is slowing down, especially in the manufacturing industry and professional services. Companies must therefore work increasingly on building an employer brand, developing their own employees and effectively using modern recruitment tools.