Young Entrepreneurs Gain Ground Across Europe, with Poland Near the Top

Eurostat data for 2025 shows that entrepreneurship is becoming an increasingly important entry point into the labour market for young Europeans. Across the European Union, around 2.06 million people aged between 20 and 29 were self-employed, representing 7.9 percent of all entrepreneurs.

In Poland, approximately 266,200 young people were running their own businesses, accounting for 9 percent of the country’s self-employed population. This places Poland just outside the top ten in terms of share, but among the leading countries in absolute numbers, ranking third behind France and Italy.

The highest proportion of young entrepreneurs was recorded in Slovakia, followed by Malta and Romania, highlighting a strong presence of youth-led businesses across parts of Central and Eastern Europe.

Analysts note that entrepreneurship is increasingly seen not only as a personal choice driven by independence and creativity, but also as a practical response to a changing labour market. As entry-level roles become less available, partly due to automation and technological shifts, more young people are turning to self-employment as a viable career path.

Despite the relatively strong position, Poland has seen a decline in the number of young entrepreneurs compared to recent years. The figure has fallen from over 300,000 in 2023 to its current level, marking the lowest reading since 2020, although still above pre-pandemic levels.

At the same time, broader employment indicators show a mixed picture. Across the EU, the employment rate for people aged 20–29 reached 65.6 percent in 2025, continuing a gradual upward trend over the past decade. Poland stands slightly above this average at 69.1 percent, though it still trails leading markets such as the Netherlands and Germany.

Overall, the data points to a shifting dynamic in Europe’s labour market, where entrepreneurship is playing a growing role in absorbing younger workers. However, sustaining this trend will depend on economic conditions, access to financing and the ability of young business owners to scale their activities in an increasingly competitive environment.