Friday, 17 April 2026
Competition for available jobs in Poland is expected to intensify, as the latest data from the Job Vacancy Barometer points to a continued slowdown in recruitment activity alongside a gradual rise in unemployment.
The index, compiled by the Department of Economics and Finance at WSIiZ and BIEC, declined again in March 2026 to 244.5 points, down from 246.7 in February and 261.4 a year earlier. The figures, adjusted for seasonal effects, reflect a persistent downward trend in online job postings that has been evident since April 2025.
According to the report, vacancies have been falling across three out of four broad occupational groups. The most pronounced drop has been recorded in manual professions, although this segment still accounts for a relatively large share of available roles. In contrast, positions requiring a science or engineering background showed a modest increase, remaining the only category with an upward trajectory, albeit from a low base.
The decline in hiring activity is linked to broader economic pressures. The report highlights weaker economic conditions, compounded by inflationary pressures stemming from energy market disruptions associated with the conflict in the Middle East. At the same time, Poland’s registered unemployment rate, excluding seasonal work, rose to 5.8% in February. While still low by historical standards, the number of unemployed individuals has increased compared with the previous year.
This combination of fewer vacancies and rising unemployment is shifting labour market dynamics. The report notes that these trends are “fostering an employer’s market, weakening employees’ bargaining power and dampening prospects for real wage growth,” adding that in such an environment, upskilling is becoming increasingly important.
Regionally, job vacancies declined in most provinces in March. The sharpest increases were recorded in Podlaskie, Lubuskie and Opolskie, while the largest decreases were observed in Pomorskie, Wielkopolskie and Lubelskie. The report also points to a slightly stronger contraction in regions with already low unemployment levels.
Across occupational groups, services experienced the most notable monthly decline in vacancies, continuing a gradual downward trend observed over the past 18 months. Despite this, vacancy levels in the sector remain broadly in line with longer-term averages. Manual and social professions also continued to trend downward, with the decline in social sciences-related roles described as less pronounced but still persistent.
In roles requiring a background in social sciences or law, most categories recorded a drop in vacancies. Significant declines were noted in call centre roles, banking, graphic design and legal professions. Month-on-month increases were limited to areas such as real estate, procurement and human resources. Overall, sentiment in this segment remains subdued, with many categories either continuing to contract or stabilising at relatively low levels.
In science and engineering roles, demand was strongest for ICT systems administrators, health and safety specialists, and research and development staff. However, vacancies for programmers, engineers and construction-related roles declined. Although some IT-related positions have shown signs of recovery in recent months, activity remains low compared with previous years.
The services sector saw a broad-based reduction in vacancies in March. Media-related roles recorded the sharpest drop, continuing a long-term decline. Job postings in education have been decreasing for seven consecutive months, though the pace of decline is slowing. Despite a reduction in vacancies, demand in tourism remains relatively strong, while logistics continues to recover gradually after a prolonged downturn. Freight forwarding roles have shown some growth, in contrast to the wider logistics segment, where vacancies remain limited.
Healthcare vacancies have also been undergoing a correction over the past year, although demand for workers in the sector remains comparatively high.
Overall, the data points to a labour market that is becoming more competitive for job seekers, with limited signs of a near-term recovery in hiring activity across most sectors.
