Czech Business Services Sector Grows by 7%. It Could Employ 260,000 People by 2030

According to a survey by the ABSL association, the Czech business services sector grew at a rate of seven percent this year and currently employs more than 200,000 people. Over the next two years, 67% of centres plan to expand further, and 63% intend to broaden their activities — primarily to strengthen the efficiency, security, and resilience of their parent companies. This growth is not short-term. The sector expects to maintain a steady five percent growth rate in the coming years and could employ up to 260,000 qualified professionals by 2030. Growing geopolitical tensions, cyber threats, disinformation, and supply chain disruptions are putting increasing pressure on companies worldwide — and business services centres are helping them manage these challenges.

“We are living in a period marked by multiple pressures — geopolitical uncertainty, rapid technological change, cybersecurity threats, and growing cost and talent challenges. In this environment, the business services sector plays a vital role in helping companies maintain resilience, agility, and sustainable growth,”

says Jonathan Appleton, founder and Managing Director of ABSL.

“The industry has experienced an exceptionally stable decade, and its role in the Czech economy continues to grow. With more than 200,000 professionals in 500 centers providing services to some of the world’s largest international companies, this sector contributes roughly 10% to the Czech GDP. It has become one of the main engines of urban growth — attracting foreign investment, highly qualified talent.”

Resilience, Technology, and Security in a Connected World

Technology plays a very important role in the industry and its activities.. According to this year’s ABSL survey, 47% of Czech centres have already reached an advanced level of digitalisation, integrating multiple solutions that deliver measurable efficiency benefits. One-third of centres (33%) apply an “AI-first” strategy, implementing automation and artificial intelligence across their operations. Nearly a quarter (23%) have their own AI teams focused on innovation and digital solution development — all aimed at improving the efficiency and value of business processes. However, hand in hand with the high level of technology use comes a growing need to protect companies from new types of threats.

The topics of technological resilience, responsible use of artificial intelligence, and protection against new digital threats are therefore becoming important priorities for the industry and dominate this year’s ABSL conference, held on 4–5 November in Brno, the Czech city with the highest concentration of business services employees. More than 500 Czech and international experts will, within more than 100 keynote and sessions, discuss how business services can harness the potential of artificial intelligence and digital innovation without compromising the cybersecurity of companies, their data, or innovation projects.

AI, after all, is not only a tool for innovation but also a potential source of risk. Beyond misuse of AI to bypass security systems, data leaks through public AI tools, model manipulation, or AI-driven attacks, deepfake technologies are increasingly being exploited — not only to spread disinformation but also to manipulate internal business processes.

“Deepfake-related risks demand more than securing technology — they require a strong internal control environment, including clear verification controls for executive communications and decision-making protocols. Companies should secure their payment and communication channels while training employees to spot and report suspicious content. Finally, a robust crisis response plan with rapid escalation paths ensures organizations can act decisively to protect their reputation,”

says Michal Wojnar, Director of Cybersecurity at PwC, the diamond partner of the conference.

Brno: A Global Talent Hub

This year’s conference takes place in Brno, which holds a unique position within the Czech business services landscape. Brno is the country’s second-largest business services hub and the city with the highest employment density in this sector — nearly one in five working-age residents are employed in business services. Altogether, Brno centres employ 44,000 professionals and create around 2,000 new jobs each year. Both local and international professionals have exceptional opportunities here to collaborate on projects that shape corporate responses to emerging challenges in AI, sustainability, and digital governance.

“In the next three to five years, we expect Czech business services centers to strengthen their dominance in data analytics, automation, AI adoption, and cybersecurity — all of which are essential for companies to remain competitive in a complex global environment,”

concludes Jonathan Appleton.

ABSL (Association of Business Service Leaders in the Czech Republic) is an association of companies operating in the shared business services sector, which represents a strong generator of employment in the Czech Republic. ABSL was established in 2013 to foster companies in the business services sector, share best practices and help to develop the activities of its members and other entities operating in this segment. At the same time, ABSL provides support to foreign investors who want to establish their business services centres in the Czech Republic. Currently, there are nearly 400 centres in the Czech Republic employing 160,000 people. For more information, please visit www.absl.cz.