Forty five percent of people above 15 years of age in the CZ can cook a wide range of meals. On the contrary, 27 % of respondents admitted they could not cook at all. In our society, there are approximately 19 % of households, in which both partners take turns in cooking. Predominantly women cook in households, they themselves admit it in 67 % of cases. Women, more often than men, were taught cooking by their mothers or grandparents, men, more often than women, learnt cooking from their fathers.

At least several times a week, meals are cooked in 9 out of 10 households, only 8 % of respondents said that they only cooked several times a month or even less. Three quarters of the population eat in restaurants at least several times a month, while every fifth respondent admits that their family does not eat in restaurants at all. From the point of view of a healthy and regular diet, it is not a very good finding that 5 % of Czechs do not have breakfast and the same number misses lunch.

Within the May survey Public Opinion Research Centre concentrated on the topic of traditional Czech cuisine. The research included a section of questions devoted to finding out which traditional regional meals respondents know and if they themselves cook them. From the results it arises that people most often consider as regional meals – potato pancakes, potato cakes, kulajda (cream of mushroom soup), kyselo (mushroom sour cream sauce), cakes and goulash, and they also most frequently cook these meals in their household.

Ingredients, which Czech citizens most frequently associate traditional Czech cuisine with, include potatoes, cabbage and cottage cheese. Typically Czech meals, such as yeast fruit dumplings, garlic soup and potato pancakes, were tasted by practically all respondents at some time. Three quarters of respondents also prepare these meals in their own households. Hot cross-buns are least known by respondents.

From the results of the May survey it arises that people associate the term "traditional Czech cuisine" mainly with roast pork, with dumplings and cabbage. Others connect it with beef sirloin in cream sauce, some others with pork schnitzel or goulash. Association with sweet meals, such as fruit dumplings or buns with filling is also quite common. Other meals perceived as typical in traditional Czech cuisine are for example: potato pancakes, roast goose or duck and dumplings as a side dish.

Keeping to tradition and folk customs is considered to be important by two thirds of citizens (66 %), while approximately three people out of ten (31 %) have the opposite opinion. Regardless of this, 99 % of households keep to tradition and customs at least in some cases. As far as traditional meals associated with some specific festive occasions are concerned, almost in all households (96 %) the traditional menu is prepared in connection with Christmas Eve, in two thirds at Easter, and in a half of households on New Year’s Day.

Within the 15+ population group there were 44.2% of economically inactive people in the first half of 2003, whilst the biggest proportion consisted of pensioners (23.7%), followed by students and young apprentices (12.3%). The share of the unemployed was 4.8%, housewives and mothers on maternity leave represented 3.4%. In the group of those that were economically active (55.8%), there were 8.

Only 4.4% of respondents over 18 gave a positive answer to the question “Have you worked abroad?”. About a fifth stated that their last work abroad was organised under an international agreement. Others characterised it as daily or weekly commuting or a seasonal job lasting up to three months, or work organised elsewhere. There was a rather large quantity of recorded information on work abroad (35%): a quarter of respondents stated that some of their friends worked there (24%) and another 11% stated that a family member had worked abroad.

Results of our survey show that currently 6% of Czechs are considering working abroad, almost half of them are young people between 15 and 19, with students prevailing in the group. Work abroad is considered by men twice as often as women, further, it is considered by people without dependants, single and lone people. Most Czechs considering work abroad would prefer their destination to be Germany, the USA, the UK or Canada.

Within the group of the 15+ population where the option of unemployment could be first considered, a quarter of them (26%) have experienced unemployment since 1989, while 9% of were unemployed repeatedly. People with basic education (43%) were those who most often experienced unemployment, unlike university graduates where the ratio of those who had ever been unemployed was relatively low (9%).