Poland’s Labour Market Shows Signs of Stabilisation as Impact of Reforms Eases

Poland’s labour market appears to be stabilising after several months of mixed signals, with early indicators suggesting that the effects of recent legislative changes to employment services are beginning to wear off. While unemployment ticked slightly higher in September, the overall outlook remains steady, supported by a growing number of people finding jobs and a gradual recovery in hiring activity.

According to recent data, the registered unemployment rate rose marginally to 5.6% in September, up just 0.1 percentage points from August. Analysts say this mild increase does not indicate a major shift, but rather a pause following months of adjustment linked to mid-year changes in how employment offices operate. The reforms, introduced in June, altered how job offers and jobseekers are recorded, initially causing volatility in labour statistics.

One of the clearest signs of resilience comes from the growing number of people leaving unemployment to take up new jobs. In September, more than 60,000 jobseekers deregistered after finding work — the highest level this year and a 12% increase from the previous month. This outflow exceeded the number of new job offers registered by labour offices, suggesting that more positions are being filled through direct hiring and private recruitment channels.

At the same time, new job listings showed a modest recovery. Employment offices recorded a 5% month-on-month rise in advertised positions, though the total remains around half of what was available a year ago. Online recruitment platforms also saw slight improvements, yet analysts caution that the overall job market remains subdued, with employers still wary of expanding staff levels amid economic uncertainty.

Data from business sentiment surveys point to a mild cooling of optimism across the industrial sector. Most companies continue to take a cautious approach to hiring, with layoffs still slightly outnumbering planned new positions. However, the balance is narrowing, and economists say the situation is far from alarming.

Experts interpret these trends as a sign that the labour market is slowly absorbing the effects of recent policy shifts. The initial disruptions that followed the mid-year reforms are fading, and a more predictable pattern of employment activity is re-emerging. While structural challenges such as labour shortages and an ageing workforce persist, Poland’s job market continues to demonstrate strong underlying resilience.

If the current trajectory continues, economists expect unemployment to remain stable in the coming months, with only minor seasonal fluctuations heading into winter.

Source: BIEC