The Polish labor market, which had long been a model of stability in Eastern Europe, faced serious challenges in April 2026. Since the beginning of the year, the country has experienced a wave of layoffs, particularly affecting the industrial sector, where the demand for new personnel is steadily declining.
This is reported by Finway
Staff Reductions and Unemployment Rate in Poland
In the first months of 2026, the Polish economy is showing clear signs of slowing down. According to official statistics, from January to February, Polish companies announced plans to lay off over 9,000 workers, which is a 50% increase compared to the same period last year. The total number of employees for whom layoff procedures have been initiated has reached 18,500, with the vast majority of these processes initiated by large enterprises.
In February, the number of people laid off at the employer’s decision increased by nearly 12%, reaching 41,000 individuals. The overall unemployment rate in the country rose to 6.1%. At the same time, the number of new job vacancies appearing in public employment centers decreased by a record 67%.
Which Sectors Were Most Affected and Where Is There Demand for Workers
The most layoffs have been observed in the industrial sector, particularly in the automotive, furniture, and machinery industries. The reasons include a significant decline in exports and a reduction in new order volumes. Meanwhile, in sectors oriented towards domestic demand, the crisis is hardly felt so far. Specifically, employment growth and demand for workers remain in the food industry, warehousing logistics, electronics, services, and the HoReCa segment (hotels, restaurants, cafes).
Despite the challenging situation, the number of foreign workers in Poland continues to grow. This is attributed to the fact that labor migrants, particularly citizens of Ukraine, occupy positions that are not popular among Poles. According to the latest official data from the Polish Social Insurance Institution (ZUS), over 1.29 million foreigners are legally employed in the country, of which more than 860,000 are Ukrainians.
“The number of legally employed foreigners has exceeded 1.29 million. The vast majority of them are Ukrainians – over 860,000 officially employed citizens.”