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Alena Bičáková

CERGE-EI, Czech Republic

Contributing to this project was a valuable opportunity to present recent developments in my country’s labor market and its key challenges to a wider international audience of policymakers and academics. It is important to consider individual countries’ achievements and challenges in a broader context and to learn from both their similarities and differences. The World of Labour series of country notes provides a valuable collection of snapshots that, taken together, offer a comprehensive picture of labor markets across countries.

World of Labour role

Author

Current position

Researcher at CERGE-EI at Charles University and the Economics Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic

Research interest

Labour economics, economics of education, economics of talent

Website

https://sites.google.com/cerge-ei.cz/alenabicakova

Positions/functions as a policy advisor

Multiple policy briefs and reports for the IDEA Think Tank at CERGE-EI, studies for European Commission, other occasional policy work for local or European institutions

Past positions

Deputy Director for Graduate Studies of CERGE, Charles University, and the Economics Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences (2018-2023); Assistant Professor at CERGE-EI (2007-2016); Research Fellow at the Finance and Consumption Program at European University Institute, Florence (2005-2007)

Qualifications

PhD Economics, Johns Hopkins University, 2005

Selected publications

  • “Caught in the Cycle: Economic Conditions at Enrolment and Labour Market Outcomes of College Graduates.” Economic Journal, 131:638 (2021): 2383–2412 (with G. M. Cortes and J. Mazza).

  • “(Un)intended Effects of Parental Leave Policies: Evidence from the Czech Republic.” Labour Economics, 61 (December 2019): 1–15 (with K. Kalíšková).

  • “Make Your Own Luck: The Wage Gains From Starting College In A Bad Economy.” Labour Economics, 84 (October 2023): 102411 (with G. M. Cortes and J. Mazza).

  • “Is Longer Maternal Care Always Beneficial? The Impact of a 4-Year Paid Parental Leave.” Journal of Population Economics, 37 (March 2024): 36 (with K. Kalíšková=.

  • "Unpacking the countercyclicality of post-secondary enrollment in the United States," Economics of Education Review, 113 (2026) (with G. M. Cortes, K. Foley, J. Mazza, and P. McHenry).

Article(s)

  • The labour market in Czechia, 2000-2025

    Czechia’s tight labour market features low unemployment and high employment, but rigidity and gender gaps persist

    Alena BičákováJakub Grossmann, September 2026
    Czechia’s labour market has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past two decades. Unemployment has fallen sharply, while employment has steadily increased and continues to be among the highest levels across OECD countries. At the same time, rising real wages have not fully closed the gap with the OECD average, and the minimum wage remains relatively low compared to other countries. Gender gaps in employment and unemployment have narrowed, yet a substantial gender pay gap remains, highlighting persistent inequalities in the labour market.
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