The paper focuses on a brief analysis of the impact of globalization on the functioning of national economies, with an emphasis on competitiveness and the labour market - especially the tendency of its development. In this context, it particularly points out to behaviour of multinational corporations that decisively influence economic processes in the world and at national level. It also focuses on the potential risks and challenges of the world economy, which could directly (in a way of competition, prices, etc.) as well as indirectly affect the national economy. One of these effects is unemployment - mainly the structural one - at both the Czech Republic and the Moravian-Silesian Region.