Saturday, 15 March 2025
As of September 30, 2024, the total number of employed persons in Poland’s national economy reached 15.1 million, according to data from Statistics Poland. The workforce maintained a mean age of 42.8 years, with a median age of 42.0 years. The age distribution of employment was similar for men and women.
Men represented a larger proportion of the workforce, making up 52.8% of total employment. However, the gender composition varied across age groups. Men were predominant at the early and later stages of working life, while women had a higher representation in the 48-59 age group. Regional disparities were also evident, with a higher proportion of female employment in major cities. The highest share of women (56.4%) was recorded in Lubuskie Voivodship’s Łęknica municipality, whereas Lelkowo in Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodship had the lowest share (33.1%).
The structure of employment by economic activity showed that manufacturing employed the largest number of people, accounting for 2.76 million workers (18.2% of total employment). Within this sector, women made up 34.5% of the workforce. Trade and motor vehicle repair followed, employing 14.7% of the workforce, with women comprising over 53% of this category. The most female-dominated sectors were human health and social work activities (82.0% women) and education (79.6% women). Conversely, the most male-dominated sectors were construction and mining, where over 89% of workers were men.
Paid employment accounted for the majority of the workforce, with 78.8% of employed persons classified as employees. The remainder were self-employed or contributing family workers, totaling 3.18 million individuals, or 21.0% of total employment. Self-employment was predominantly male, with men making up 62% of this category. The self-employed workforce was concentrated in various economic activities, particularly those requiring independent business operations.
The study highlights ongoing gender differences in employment distribution, both across industries and geographical regions. The employment figures also suggest a stable labor market, with a clear distinction between traditionally male- and female-dominated sectors. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers and businesses seeking to understand workforce trends and plan for future economic developments.
Source: Statistics Poland
