Old-age Dependency Ratio in the Czech Republic: Challenges for Businesses in the Context of an Ageing Population

This article focuses on the analysis of demographic indicators in the Czech Republic, with an emphasis on South Bohemia.The main objective is to evaluate changes in the old-age dependency ratio (ODR) and young-age dependency ratio (YDR) in different regions and to identify critical factories that affect it.The results show that areas with high ODR, such as Jindichv Hradec, Psek, and Hradec Krlov, face significant challenges, especially in connection with labour shortages, which can negatively affect the sustainability of local businesses.On the other hand, regions such as Prague East, with low ODR and high YDR, have a younger demographic structure, which supports their economic growth and attractiveness to young families.The article also concludes by outlining how these demographic differences may affect the ability of companies to adapt to changing market conditions and maintain competitiveness.