Number of self-employed entrepreneurs hits record

The number of self-employed entrepreneurs in Czechia rose by 27,000 in the first three quarters of this year, reaching a record 1.182 million, according to the Czech Social Security Administration (ČSSZ). For comparison, last year the total number of self-employed — including private doctors, artists, or farmers — grew by 28,000 over the entire year. Most self-employed people are registered in Prague (222,000), followed by the Central Bohemia region (168,000) and South Moravia (132,000).

Despite the record figures, the Czech News Agency notes that the increase does not only indicate stronger entrepreneurial activity, but also a rise in cases where workers are officially self-employed while effectively functioning as regular employees. It also adds that no other EU country relies on small businesses as heavily as Czechia, where firms with one to nine employees make up over 95% of all businesses and are the largest employer in  the country.