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Poland labor market sees rising migration and shift toward civil law contracts
The Polish labor market is undergoing significant structural shifts. Data from the Central Statistical Office (GUS) indicates a record positive migration balance in 2025, driven largely by arrivals from Belarus and Ukraine. This influx is a key demographic factor influencing the workforce.
Simultaneously, there is a growing trend toward flexible employment. Approximately 1.5 million people are currently employed solely through civil law contracts (umowy zlecenia), a figure that has risen by nearly 6% year-over-year. This growth is attributed largely to retirees and immigrants. In response, the State Labor Inspection (PIP) has gained new powers to reclassify certain civil law contracts and B2B agreements into standard employment contracts, specifically targeting sectors like administration, healthcare, and the digital platform economy.
Regarding wages, the Council of Ministers has officially set the minimum wage for January 1, 2027, at 4,950 PLN gross, with a minimum hourly rate of 32.30 PLN. This decision follows a lack of consensus between employers and trade unions during social dialogue negotiations.
Market trends also show a cooling in certain sectors; while engineering and hospitality see rising demand and wages, job offers for office workers, marketers, and IT professionals have declined. Meanwhile, the National Bank of Poland reported high export dynamics in computer equipment, despite fluctuations in the automotive and furniture industries.
Entities
Główny Urząd Statystyczny · Narodowy Bank Polski · National Bank of Poland · National Labour Inspectorate · Państwowa Inspekcja Pracy · Poland · Rada Ministrów · Statistics Poland
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Men accounted for 51.5 percent of those working exclusively on mandate contracts at the end of March 2026. forsal.pl
- [● 3 SOURCES] As of the end of March 2026, approximately 1.5 million people in Poland worked exclusively on mandate contracts and similar agreements. forsal.pl
- [● 3 SOURCES] Approximately 20,300 people worked exclusively on task-specific contracts (umowy o dzieło) in March 2026. forsal.pl
- [● 3 SOURCES] The largest group of mandate contract workers is in the administration and support services sector, totaling 312,600 people. forsal.pl
- [● 2 SOURCES] The number of people working exclusively on mandate contracts increased by 5.9 percent (82,000 people) compared to March 31, 2025. forsal.pl
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Between July 8 and August 28, 2026, the National Labour Inspectorate conducted 347 inspections and issued 210 written orders to confirm employment contracts.