Poland's students pivot to smart freelancing, moving away from traditional seasonal jobs

Seasonal employment for Polish students, traditionally limited to agriculture, hospitality and other manual jobs, is declining. Data from OLX Praca shows a 15 % drop in seasonal job listings compared with the previous year, while applications for such positions rose 12 %.

Instead, an increasing number of students are turning to “smart freelancing” through platforms such as Useme. Projects in marketing, e‑commerce, administration and IT are now common, with the average single freelance contract for a student exceeding 3,000 zł and the average value of a student‑firm agreement around 3,255 zł (4,154 zł on the employer side). Companies view these engagements as a way to build flexible, project‑based teams rather than hiring temporary summer staff.

The shift also interacts with Polish social‑security rules. While a standard employment contract obliges employers to enrol workers in ZUS, a contract of mandate (umowa zlecenie) for students under 26 often excludes social contributions, increasing net pay but reducing entitlement to benefits. After completing a bachelor’s degree, students lose the “student” status for ZUS purposes, making such contracts fully insured.