Cutting unemployment benefits will push people into bad jobs, while retraining is lacking, sociologist says

Lower unemployment benefits could push job seekers into unsuitable work after only a short period, sociologist Daniel Prokop says, as the Czech government prepares to reduce support again next year.

Prokop, the founder of the Czech research organization PAQ Research, questions whether more generous benefits actually encourage people to stay unemployed for longer. In his view, the more important effect is that adequate support gives them better opportunities to find work that matches their abilities.

“When unemployment benefits are low, people are financially on the edge after just one month and have to accept any job. Failing to use people’s talents is worse for the economy than one month of benefits,” Prokop told iDNES.cz.

His argument also points to a lack of retraining opportunities. If people cannot rely on support while acquiring new skills, they may have little choice but to take the first available job, even when it does not make good use of their experience or potential. The debate therefore concerns not only the duration of unemployment, but also the quality of the work people eventually accept.

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When unemployment benefits are low, people are financially on the edge after just one month and have to accept any job. Failing to use people’s talents is worse for the economy than one month of benefits.