Trends, employment costs and recruitment realities — from both the employer's and the employee's side. Knowledge that helps you plan your hiring.

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The labour market in Poland

Key information about the employee's market and the employer's market in 2026

The labour market in Poland in 2026 is neither clearly an employee's market nor an employer's market. Increasingly, it has a mixed character — in some industries candidates still hold the advantage, while in others employers are gaining a stronger position.

This situation means that recruitment strategy, salary expectations and negotiating leverage depend primarily on the industry, the specialisation, the availability of candidates and the pace of economic growth.

In practice, companies and employees should analyse the market locally and by industry, rather than relying on a single general assumption about the entire economy.

The basics

Employee's market and employer's market

Two concepts that help you understand who has the stronger negotiating position.

Definition 01

What is an employee's market?

An employee's market occurs when the number of job offers exceeds the number of available candidates. In such a situation, employees have greater freedom to choose between offers and can expect better employment conditions.

Higher pay
Attractive benefits
Flexible working hours
Greater bargaining power for candidates

Definition 02

What is an employer's market?

An employer's market emerges when the number of candidates exceeds the number of available jobs. In such a situation, companies hold a stronger negotiating position and can set their requirements more precisely.

A wider choice of candidates
More detailed requirements
More cautious recruitment decisions
Limits on additional benefits

The situation

The situation on the labour market in Poland

In recent years Poland has long operated under the conditions of an employee's market. Low unemployment, a shortage of specialists and rising candidate expectations strengthened the position of employees.

Specialist sectors continue to favour candidates
Less specialised sectors — the advantage shifts to companies
Greater caution from employers in many industries

Candidate advantage

Industries in which employees hold the advantage

The employee's market is still maintained primarily in sectors that require high qualifications, specialist knowledge or experience.

Cybersecurity

Engineering

Automation

Medicine

Finance

Transport and logistics

Industry and selected areas of manufacturing

In these industries companies have to compete not only on pay, but also on benefits, flexibility, development opportunities and a good working atmosphere.

Company advantage

Industries in which the employer's advantage is growing

A stronger employer position is particularly visible in less specialised occupations, in roles with high turnover and in sectors more vulnerable to an economic slowdown.

Simple production work

Some hospitality and food service roles

Warehouse work

Positions without specialist qualifications

In such areas candidates may have a smaller choice of offers, while companies are more often the ones who set the terms of employment.

Drivers

The most important factors influencing the labour market

Unemployment level

Number of available job offers

Shortage of specialists

Pace of economic growth

Candidates' salary expectations

Automation

Aging population

Worker migration

In practice

What does this mean for employers and employees?

— 01 · employers

Flexible workforce planning

Companies should adapt their recruitment strategy to the specific industry and the real availability of candidates.

— 02 · shortage sectors

Attracting and retaining talent

In specialist industries, attractive benefits, development opportunities and a good working atmosphere will remain key.

— 03 · employees

Skill development

People in less specialised occupations should invest in new skills and professional flexibility.

The labour market in Poland

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The labour market in Poland in 2026 is mixed — the advantage depends on the industry, qualifications and the availability of specialists.

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Good Balance — The labour market in Poland