Poland labor market faces rising sick leave costs and staff shortages

Poland is experiencing significant labor market challenges, characterized by rising sick leave costs and acute personnel shortages in key sectors. According to data from the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS), sick leave absences cost approximately 34.88 billion PLN. The number of medical certificates is increasing, reaching nearly 28 million annually. The primary drivers for these absences include musculoskeletal disorders, which accounted for 17.5% of absences, and mental health disorders at 14.1%. Officials suggest that remote work habits, such as working from laptops on sofas, may contribute to physical health issues.

Simultaneously, the production and logistics sectors are struggling with severe labor shortages. A report by Gi Group indicates that 62.6% of companies in these sectors experienced disruptions due to staff shortages at least six times a year. These shortages have led to increased workloads for existing staff and have prevented over half of the surveyed enterprises from accepting new orders or expanding operations. While there has been a slight improvement in the economic climate indices for manufacturing and transport, companies remain cautious regarding recruitment and cost management.