Slovakia faces skilled labor shortage and skills mismatch

Slovakia faces a persistent shortage of skilled labor, characterized by a mismatch between available job seekers and vacant positions. According to a survey by recruitment agencies Grafton and Gi Group, while the unemployment rate stood at 5.9% in the first quarter of 2026, there were 152,862 unfilled vacancies compared to 142,868 registered job seekers.

Technological shifts, including digitalization, automation, and artificial intelligence, are reshaping traditional roles and creating new demand for specialists in cybersecurity and data management. Experts suggest that retraining could serve as a vital tool to bridge the gap between the current workforce and evolving industry needs.

The survey indicates that 71% of companies would consider retraining current employees if they could not find suitable external candidates. However, only four out of ten workers are currently considering or undergoing career changes, often due to fears of uncertainty, lower income, or the challenges of new learning. For employees, the primary motivators for retraining are higher pay (52%), more stable or less stressful work (39%), and limited opportunities in their current fields (25%).