Einar H. Dyvik
Research expert covering Nordics and global data for society, economy, and politics
Labor market in Poland - statistics & facts
In recent years, the Polish labor market has demonstrated notable stability in the face of the disruptions caused by the pandemic and the economic consequences of the war in Ukraine. Although initially hit with job freezes and layoffs, these shocks did not trigger a long-term crisis. Instead, the labor market recovered, and today, the country has one of the lowest unemployment rates in Central and Eastern Europe. However, a new problem of talent shortage emerged as almost 60 percent of employers in Poland struggled to find employees in 2025. Meanwhile, the monthly number of job offers submitted to labor offices has been on a downward trend since the second quarter of 2022.
Despite these positive trends, not all sectors benefit from them equally. The high demand for specialists persisted in IT, sales, and manufacturing, giving candidates in these areas a clear advantage. Conversely, workers in more saturated markets face a different, less favorable reality.
Overall, the Polish labor market has proven its resilience to global and local crises in the past and is on track to maintain these positive trends in the future.
Is there an employee market in Poland?
An employee market emerges when the demand for labor exceeds the workers’ supply, giving candidates a much stronger position in negotiations with employers. In Poland, signs of such a market are increasingly visible but vary between sectors and regions. In 2024, the employment rate for the 15-64 age group was 72.5 percent, 15.5 percentage points higher than in 2010. It is specifically remarkable, as at the time of its accession to the European Union (EU) in 2004, Poland had the highest registered unemployment rate in the EU, reaching 19 percent. Since then, this rate has been declining, reaching a low of 5.1 percent in 2023.Despite these positive trends, not all sectors benefit from them equally. The high demand for specialists persisted in IT, sales, and manufacturing, giving candidates in these areas a clear advantage. Conversely, workers in more saturated markets face a different, less favorable reality.
Salaries and benefits
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, rising inflation, and the looming specter of economic recession, nearly three-quarters of Poles were satisfied with their jobs in the last quarter of 2024. One reason behind this is raising wages, since both minimal and average gross wages have been consistently growing in Poland and amounted to over 8,500 zloty at the end of 2024, doubling since 2017. However, being content with one's job involves more than just earnings. The most valued factors affecting job satisfaction in 2024 were the friendly atmosphere and responsibilities that match one’s interests, as cited by every fourth respondent.Overall, the Polish labor market has proven its resilience to global and local crises in the past and is on track to maintain these positive trends in the future.
