Extensive data on Roma in the Czech Republic: menial work, poverty and living in insecurity

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The most recent survey of the Roma population in the Czech Republic reveals a number of inequalities compared to the majority of the population, as well as the intertwined reasons behind them.

For example, the data on the probable unemployment rate of the Roma minority in the Czech Republic: It is calculated at 17.6 percent. While the general data of the Labor Office in March show unemployment at only 3.9 percent.

However, according to a report drawn up by the Research Institute of Labor and Social Affairs and based on a survey of 1,268 people in the period from the end of September to February 2024, it appears that double unemployment in the Roma population is more likely to be reported by women who state that they care for loved ones – 25, 8 percent—than men—12.1 percent.

At the same time, the data show that Roma are far more likely to be kept in a precarious job situation: 50.5 percent state that they are employed for a fixed period of time. According to Eurostat data, only 6.7 percent of the employed population in the Czech Republic had a fixed-term contract last year.

“I would venture to say that the results confirm in many ways that the Roma are not at their best. It is a picture of what it looks like in a cross-section of the population,” Ivana Šimíková, the main author of the report, summarized the results of the report.

Who is Roma?

The Report’s list presents four areas of problems resulting from the latest data on the Roma population in the Czech Republic, which reflect significant inequality compared to the majority population.

The data show that for 49 percent of respondents, completing primary school is the highest level of education they have achieved. Another 5.8 percent did not finish primary school.

“In the general population in 2022, the proportion of people with primary education was only 20 percent,” said Laura Fónadová, co-author of the report on the investigation.

She added that the Roma population is significantly shifted to lower levels of education compared to the general population.

Almost thirty percent continued their primary school apprenticeship without a high school diploma, and only less than three percent of the interviewed persons from the Roma population declared a high school diploma.

Highest education level:

Source: Report on the socio-economic situation of the Roma population in the Czech Republic 2023/2024

In total, not even one percent of the respondents declared university, gymnasium with matriculation or post-matriculation studies.

As part of the survey, the researchers were also interested in what kind of education parents would like for their children who go to primary school. Most often, respondents mentioned an apprenticeship without a high school diploma (36.9 percent) and high school with a high school diploma (35.5 percent). 3.9 percent of parents would like higher education for their children.

The survey also shows that nearly five percent of respondents encountered discrimination in contact with the school.

Many times more people from the Roma population than the general population work for a fixed period. At the same time, four out of five have an employment contract and only a fifth have an agreement on work activities.

At the same time, the data show that practically half of the Roma population works as unskilled workers. Another 18.4 percent as skilled workers. Only almost five percent of people work in services.

Job status:

Source: Report on the socio-economic situation of the Roma population in the Czech Republic 2023/2024

There is also a significant gender difference in the employment of men and women. Even compared to the general population. In general, 88.6 percent of men and 73.7 percent of women between the ages of 20 and 64 showed employment in 2022. A difference of 14.9 percentage points.

In the Roma population, however, 65.3 percent of men and 29.5 percent of women show employment. The difference represents a high 35.8 percentage points

“About two-thirds of economically inactive women have caring responsibilities,” the report says. Roma women most often take care of children or an adult who requires care.

A relatively high number of Roma women – 12.7 percent – ​​said they believed they would not be able to find work.

Housing represents another uncertainty and inequality of the Roma population compared to the general Czech population.

15.3 percent of people live in owner-occupied housing. According to data from the Czech Statistical Office, in 2023, 72.7 percent of the general Czech population lived in their own home, while 77.7 people from the Roma minority lived in rented accommodation.

Most often, the respondents stated that they have a tenancy agreement within 12 months (68.5 percent).

The report from the workshop of the research institute deals with the housing of the Roma population in great detail. For example, the data shows that one in ten people live without their own kitchen or kitchenette. However, according to the 2021 Census, the same can be said for only 0.5 percent of the general population.

Source: Report on the socio-economic situation of the Roma population in the Czech Republic 2023/2024

More than nine percent said they had experienced a power outage in the past 12 months, and almost 90 percent of those surveyed said they lived in an overcrowded household, that is, one that did not meet the minimum requirements for the number of rooms per person (for example: 1 room per household + 1 room for an adult couple + 1 separate room for an adult over 18 years + 1 room for every two children under 12 years).

According to Eurostat, in 2023, 15.9 percent of people lived in overcrowded households.

According to data from the survey, 2.7 percent of people from the Roma population live in hostels, again according to the 2021 Census, 0.1 to 0.2 percent of people lived in hostels.

The co-author of the report, Ivana Šimíková, described that 47 respondents live in households that find themselves in income poverty. In general, roughly a tenth of the population is in poverty.

“Income poverty is five times higher than in the average household,” said Šimíková.

At the same time, the poverty line for 2023 was simply set at an income of 201,283 crowns per year. It is the household income after deduction of taxes and other deductions.

Share of people who do not have/cannot afford the given item for financial reasons:

Source: Report on the socio-economic situation of the Roma population in the Czech Republic 2023/2024

Specifically, in the survey, almost 78 percent of the respondents stated that they did not have enough heating and 73 percent would not be able to cover the unexpected expenditure of 14 thousand crowns.