This measure is likely to have had a small negative effect on youth employment, as only around 4.5% of workers aged between 15-21 years old were receiving compensation at or close to the youth minimum wage (Czech Statistical Office, 2012, Laporsek, 2013). In addition, the largest and most influential trade union, the Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions (CMKOS) also makes regular recommendations on wage increases based on its inflation forecast and expected economic developments. Vacancies dropped and the unemployment rate rose to historically high levels, affecting disproportionately low-skilled workers and youth (Figure 2.3, panels A, B and C, OECD, 2013b). The youth unemployment rate (15-24 years old) rose to 20% in 2012, against a national average of 7%.