Poland's Labour Market Tightens as Companies Plan Record Layoffs for 2026
Polish employers are shifting to cautious hiring as layoff plans reach a 9-year high of 9.8%, while just 13.7% intend to expand staff. This reversal reflects mounting cost pressures and economic uncertainty.
Companies in Poland are approaching hiring more cautiously and less optimistically than a year ago, with just 13.7% saying they will increase staff numbers in the coming quarter and 9.8% planning to reduce headcount, according to Gi Group Holding's Labor Market Barometer 2026. The shift marks a significant turning point in the labour market.
Hiring Pullback and Layoff Surge
The percentage of those anticipating layoffs has doubled, from 4.9% a year ago to 9.8%, the highest figure since 2017. As in previous years, maintaining current employment levels remains the most frequently cited scenario at 72.2% of companies, although the research indicated a slight year-on-year decline.
Polish companies are bracing for an unprecedented wave of job eliminations, with an estimated 80,000 positions expected to be cut by the end of this year. This figure marks a staggering increase, doubling the number of layoffs projected for 2024 and surpassing the workforce reductions seen in 2020 at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The anticipated surge in job losses highlights significant structural challenges within Poland's labor market, with the chemical industry and transport sectors identified as the hardest hit.
For foreigners: Even with Poland's historically tight labour market, the current trend toward caution and cost-cutting may mean fewer new international hire approvals. If you have a job offer or work permit application pending, submit now rather than waiting. Those in chemical, transport, construction, and manufacturing sectors should monitor employer announcements closely.
Sources
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