Structural Changes and Technological Progress as Factors of Labour Market Developments in the V4 Countries in 2004–2018

Abstract

In 2004–2018, Central European countries experienced significant structural changes that affected the labour market as well. These included an increase in the activity rate and a decrease in unemployment, a growing share of those employed in the services sector and increased flexibility of employment. The main focus of the paper is on the developments in the V4 countries’ labour markets in comparison to more general trends in the European Union and global economy. The aim was to investigate the impact of two determinants of the changes: technological progress and structural transformations of the economy. The results of the analysis revealed that trends in the V4 countries were not always concurrent with the more widespread tendencies, e.g. the shift in the share of various sectors in total employment was consistent with the general trend, while in the case of under-employment or share of part-time employment, the V4 situation varied.

Keywords

• eu
• visegrád countries
• labour market
• technology
• structural change