Corruption: Slovakia ranked 49th on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index in 2024. International companies doing business with the Slovak Government or attempting to obtain licenses required by the Slovak Government to do business in the country report poor transparency in bureaucratic processes. The Perceptions Index report notes businesses perceive corruption is widespread in courts, government contracting and public procurement, and in the healthcare system. While the legal system generally enforces property and contractual rights, decisions may take years, thus limiting the utility of the courts for dispute resolution.
Labor: Based on OECD data, as of 2024, Slovakia continues to face significant labor shortages across various sectors, exacerbated by the education system’s slow adaptation to rapidly evolving industry demands. The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector experiences a higher shortage of qualified professionals compared to other sectors. On average, there are 142 percent more vacancies per employed person in ICT jobs than in the general labor market. In the healthcare sector, there is a notable shortage of general practitioners and pediatricians, with open vacancies reported for approximately 780 general practitioners and 330 pediatricians. Additionally, a significant number of doctors are approaching retirement age. The sector also lacks experienced nurses and mid-level medical staff, with approximately 15,000 vacancies identified by the Ministry of Health. The construction industry estimates it is short about 10,000 employees across various positions.
The Ministry of Labor reported the Slovak unemployment rate was at 5.3 percent in September 2025, a slight increase after four years of declines, but still at historically low levels. At the same time, there were 144,500 job seekers. 
The gap between open job listings and job seekers is primarily attributed to educational programs that fail to align with current market needs, leaving job seekers without the specific education and practical skills demanded by employers. To address these challenges, the Slovak government has implemented measures to ease visa access for industries suffering from labor-shortages, to attract foreign workers to fill critical positions in sectors such as manufacturing and agriculture. 
Despite these efforts, the labor market remains tight due to strong labor demand and demographic changes, including early retirements. The unemployment rate is expected to remain broadly stable going from 5.3 percent in 2024 to an estimated 5.4 percent in 2025, and 5.5 percent in 2026.