The identification of the problem is the result of author’s observation during practice as a career counsellor. This article summarizes researches, studies and data focused on women on the labour market and women entrepreneurs in the Czech Republic, then deals with their motivation, the risks of this career choice and problem of precarisation. The findings came from various sources (literature, articles, research, studies, etc) and were connected into a meaningful unit. There were compared and confronted various findings and opinions. The Czech Republic is one of the countries with the greatest negative impact of motherhood on a women’s career, with high unemployment rate of mothers with children under fifteen and problem with return after maternity leave. As main obstacles are considered unavailable childcare and lack flexible working patterns, especially part-time. The number of Czech female entrepreneurs is growing. Between 2011 and 2017, ten times more Czech women than men started their own business. Just as men do, women want to have their own business, be independent and use the opportunity. But according to the research, for some women business activity is the only choice to avoid unemployment, to combine work and family and to gain some income. Women entrepreneurs (especially self-employed) are vulnerable to precarisation. The author suggests possible measures for policy, career practice and education. Some of them support women as entrepreneurs, the other promote employment prospects, so that the business remains the choice and not the necessity.

1. Business as a career strategy
for Czech women
Ing. Lucie Václavková Ph.D.

2. Started business between 2011 and 2017 in ČR
5,541 54,063

3. Women and care
➔ the longest paid parental leave in EU (+ only 5000 fathers
on parental leave)
➔ women as main informal carers (2/3)
➔ women as “solo-parents”
➔ lack of family support
➔ lack of care facilities (children, seniors, …)

4. Women on the labour market
➔ one of the greatest negative impact motherhood on woman’s
career
➔ employment rate of mothers with children under 15 about 60 %
➔ 44 % of women return to the former employer after paternal
leave
➔ women face discrimination (60 %)
➔ lack flexible working patterns, especially part-time (11 % of
Czech women work part-time, Netherlands about 75 %)
➔ 21,8 % Gender Pay Gap (29 % University degree)

5. Motivation for starting business
OPPORTUNITY NECESSITY
OR

6. What do we know about Czech women in
business?
➔ higher educated than male entrepreneurs
➔ more often unemployed or without earning activity at the
time of starting a business
➔ do business in services + handmade business
➔ usually supported by their husbands, fathers or close
friends.
➔ face a lack of self-esteem
➔ family represents the highest value and they typically
evaluate family as more important than career

7. Risk of precarisation
➔ short-term work
➔ risk of termination
➔ lacking control over labour conditions and protection
➔ low and irregular income
➔ absence of education
➔ various relationships
>> 50 % survival rate
>> lower social security for parents

8. Policy and social support
➔ support flexible working patterns (flexi time, part-time,
etc.)
➔ create childcare facilities and also support carers
➔ act against discrimination on the labour market
➔ improve the access to social security for entrepreneurs
➔ support greater participation of fathers and men in
(child)care
➔ offer microfinancing
➔ reduce the boundaries of entry into business
(administration, etc.)
➔ info for entrepreneurs

9. Education and career services
➔ build entrepreneurial competences - management,
finance, etc.
➔ offer career services, coaching and mentoring for women
entrepreneurs
➔ offer further training and retraining to promote employment
prospects
➔ deepen the cooperation between women’s career support
organizations
➔ share best practices
➔ map the needs of female entrepreneurs
➔ support networking/neting

10. Stay connected?
Lucie Václavková
career counsellor and lecturer
member SKPK
+420 777 689 078
lucie.vaclavkova.com I lucie@vaclavkova.com
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