Poland labor market shows rising unemployment amid sector growth

The Polish labor market is showing mixed signals as of late 2026. According to the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy, the registered unemployment rate rose slightly to 5.9% in August, up from 5.8% in July. By the end of August, 911,000 people were registered as unemployed, an increase of 4,600 from the previous month and significantly higher than in August 2025.

Regional disparities remain high. The highest unemployment rates were recorded in the Szydłowiec and Przysucha counties (22.8% and 18.1% respectively), while the lowest rates were found in Warsaw and Poznań (1.6% and 1.4%).

Despite rising unemployment, some sectors and regions show resilience. In Kraków, the unemployment rate remains low at 2.8%, with rising wages and job offers. Additionally, ManpowerGroup reports that 32% of Polish companies plan to hire new employees by the end of the year, with a net employment forecast of +18%. In the technology sector, job offers for AI/ML roles saw a massive 111% year-on-year increase, though demand is increasingly shifting toward mid- and senior-level specialists rather than juniors.