The beginning of 2026 marked a noticeable intensification of the trend towards staff reductions in Poland, which raises serious concerns.
At the beginning of 2026, the trend of staff reductions intensified in the Polish labor market. According to the country's State Employment Service, businesses announced plans to conduct mass layoffs of 9,060 employees, which is immediately 50% more than at the same time in 2025. This is a troubling signal for the economy.
Alarming Layoff Statistics
Experts note that this primarily concerns mass layoffs in large companies. This could negatively affect Ukrainians – both those who are already working in large organizations and those who planned to join them.
An international employment company told OBOZ.UA about a significant increase in the number of unfinished layoffs. These are situations where an employee is still formally listed in the company but is no longer performing their duties or is in the process of leaving, which is prolonged due to internal procedures or external circumstances.
In January-February 2026, the number of such layoffs reached 18,576 people, which is 16% more than a year earlier. Specialists state: "At least 10 well-known companies have announced plans to reduce 4,000–4,500 employees. These are only publicly known cases, but they reflect a broader trend confirmed by official statistics."
Cooling Labor Market: Key Indicators
Analysts note that these processes reflect a general cooling of the Polish labor market. It is already being recorded in the basic indicators of the business sector, which raises concerns.
In February 2026, employment in the business sector amounted to 6.71 million people. This is 4,000 less than in January and immediately 53,000 less than in February 2025.
The unemployment rate in February 2026 reached 6.1%, and the number of registered unemployed increased by 12.8% – to 954,900 people. The number of vacancies in state employment centers decreased by 67%, indicating a decline in demand for labor.
Sectors with Employment Growth
However, analysts note that there is growth in employment in certain sectors, albeit small. This primarily concerns those industries where foreign labor plays a significant role – the food industry, electronics, logistics, etc.
Recruiters summarized: "Thus, the Polish labor market is entering a phase of structural changes. The overall increase in the number of layoffs and the reduction in employment is combined with targeted demand in sectors oriented towards the domestic market and government contracts."
As reported by OBOZ.UA, in 2025, the highest salary increases in Poland were seen for transport dispatchers – by 9.5%. Overall, the logistics sector demonstrated one of the highest growth dynamics of wages in the local labor market.
