The stability of the Polish labour market is confirmed by the latest Eurostat figures on the unemployment rate. They show that, with the rate of 3.4%, we are one of the countries with the lowest level of unemployment in the European Union – only the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Germany are better than us. The unemployment rate in Poland is significantly lower than the EU average (6.7%) and the average for euro zone countries (7.3%). This trend has continued for several months.

Also, the European Commission’s forecasts are optimistic for us. According to the EC, this year Polish GDP will increase by 4.8% in real terms. Next year, the economy will record a leap at the level of 5.2%.

The good condition of the Polish economy is mainly the result of multi-billion support, which in the period of the pandemic has been provided to entrepreneurs and employees as part of the Anti-Crisis Shield. We have protected several million jobs against the negative consequences of the pandemic. We have introduced a number of facilities so that companies could operate during this difficult period – says the Minister of Family and Social Policy, Marlena Maląg.

Process of digitisation is accelerating

One of such facilities – introduced as part of the Anti-Crisis Shield – was the possibility of performing remote work. In the first quarter of 2021, when the restrictive limitations were still in force, 3.2 million people, i.e. one fifth of all working people, performed remote work. In the second quarter of 2021, it was 2.8 million people, or 16.9% of all working people. The pandemic has accelerated the process of automation and digital transformation in the labour market.

The unemployment rate in Poland decreased

The Statistics Poland notes clear signs of improvement in the Polish labour market in 2021. The figures show that since March the unemployment rate has been steadily decreasing and reached the level of 5.4% at the end of November. It is by 0.7% less that the year ago and less than in February 2020, i.e. just before the outbreak of the pandemic, when the registered unemployment rate was 5.5%.

For many months, the situation in the labour market in Poland has been stable. The registers of labour offices contain more than 125 thousand people fewer than the year ago. These are good prospects for the Polish economy entering the next year – says the Minister of Family and Social Policy, Marlena Maląg.

Good labour market indicators

Despite the ongoing pandemic, the labour market indicators point to the improved situation and the return of positive trends in the labour market.

• In the second quarter of 2021, for the age group of 15-64 years, the professional activity rate was 72.6% which means an annual increase by 2.5% year by year.
• At the same time, the employment rate increased by 2.1% to the level of 70.2%.
• In both cases, the increase in Poland is more dynamic than the EU average.
• On the other hand, from the Statistics Poland figures we learn that in October 2021 average employment in the sector of enterprises amounted to 6.3 million people and was by 0.5% higher than the year before.
• From January to November, the labour offices received nearly 230 thousand job offers more than in the same period of 2020.

What is the year 2022 to be like?

In its periodical surveys of “Employment Outlook”, Manpower estimates that in 2022 we should expect further positive trends in the Polish labour market.

According to the analysis, 43% of entrepreneurs expect to increase the number of employees in the first three months of 2022 and 36% do not envisage any personnel changes. The net employment forecast is as high as +25% and is one of the highest results since the start of the survey in Poland.

The employment growth is expected in all regions of the country, in all sectors and regardless of the size of the enterprise.