The Polish labor market is demonstrating complex and uneven dynamics. According to recent data from the Polish Central Statistical Office (GUS), published by the analytical center of the international HR company Gremi Personal, demand for Ukrainian workers remains high, but its nature is changing radically depending on the industry.

Hotel and Restaurant Business Leads in Hiring

The most optimistic figures this year are recorded in the HoReCa sector. By the end of the first five months of the year, employment in the hotel and restaurant business grew by 2.1% year-on-year, reaching 167.8 thousand people. Experts note that it is precisely this sector that generates the bulk of demand for foreign specialists, requiring primarily physical, operational, and seasonal staff.

From January to May, the average number of officially insured foreigners in Poland totaled 1.306 million — an 8.4% increase compared to the same period last year. Ukrainians remain the undisputed leaders among them: their numbers grew by almost 10%, to 873.5 thousand people.

"This allowed employers to promptly cover seasonal and peak staffing needs," commented Evgeny Kirichenko, founder of Gremi Personal.

Industry Faces Employment Crisis

While the service sector is growing, the industrial sector is facing serious difficulties. In May, employment in the manufacturing industry dropped to 2.368 million people, which is 1.29% less than the figure a year earlier. During the first five months of the current year, the industry lost about 32.4 thousand workers.

The situation is particularly acute in the furniture industry, where employment fell by 4.1% over the year. Reductions are also recorded in the automotive industry: car and parts production reduced its workforce by 3% year-on-year.

Growth Points: Defense and Electronics

However, not all areas of engineering show a decline. Positive dynamics are shown by the production of computer and electronic equipment, as well as machinery and equipment. According to experts, this growth is stimulated by large-scale defense and infrastructure orders.

Forecasts for the Second Half of the Year

Gremi Personal analysts forecast an improvement in the labor market situation in the second half of the year. Key factors capable of supporting the economy and increasing demand for labor include:

  • Slowing inflation;
  • Cheaper bank loans;
  • Gradual revival of the construction industry.

Specialists believe that these macroeconomic changes will have a positive effect on hiring, including the attraction of foreign labor.

Tightening Control and Legislative Changes

Alongside changing economic conditions, administrative control in Poland is tightening. Since July, the labor inspectorate has begun conducting intensified checks on foreign labor contracts. If it turns out that a worker is de facto performing the functions of a regular employee, civil-law agreements may be forcibly reclassified as official employment contracts.

Furthermore, the Polish Ministry of Interior is preparing amendments to the citizenship law. The new provisions will complicate the naturalization process, which will particularly affect Ukrainians, who are the largest group of foreigners applying for a Polish passport.