14:27 28 February 2026
Labor market oddity: unemployment and number of workers increasing
Poland’s latest data show rising registered unemployment at 6 percent in January, yet employment and labor force participation are also increasing. Part of the rise reflects new registration rules, while surveys confirm a modest uptick in joblessness. The labor market is mixed, with weaker demand for highly educated workers and gains among those with secondary education. Meanwhile, Poland’s export profile is shifting toward higher-tech sectors such as defense, aviation, and medical equipment, with high-tech goods exceeding 10 percent of exports, though often based on foreign technology.
Tax and social security burdens are pushing middle-income earners into self-employment. Investors are rotating into emerging markets, and Poland’s 2025 budget deficit came in PLN 13 billion below the legal limit.
(pb.pl)
