In the fourth quarter of 2024, 35% of organizations in Poland plan to recruit new employees, while 42% intend to make no changes to their staffing structures. Meanwhile, 19% of surveyed employers indicate plans for staff reductions. The net employment forecast for Poland for the final months of the year, reflecting recruitment sentiment, is +15%. This data comes from the latest Barometer ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook report, which outlines companies’ hiring plans from October to December. Which industries are expected to recruit the most new talent? In which regions of Poland are the largest increases forecasted? And how do Poland’s figures compare to the broader EMEA region?
ManpowerGroup has released its latest Barometer ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook report, detailing companies’ hiring intentions for the fourth quarter of 2024. The net employment forecast for Poland, representing companies’ intent to acquire new staff, stands at +15%. This figure is unchanged quarter-on-quarter but is 2 percentage points lower year-on-year. This indicates that the job market has maintained its current level of activity, is relatively stable, and companies are looking to expand their teams.
“Analyzing data from the beginning of this year, it is evident that companies in Poland are experiencing a certain stabilization. For the second consecutive quarter, the net employment forecast for Poland remains almost identical,” says Tomasz Walenczak, General Manager of ManpowerGroup in Poland. “This is encouraging because, despite various signals from the global or domestic economy, it appears that many organizations want to strengthen their teams, grow, and pursue more. Not all industries view the coming months with the same optimism; we must remember that cyclical economic storms related to global geopolitical situations will return, and there is also significant activity concerning restructuring and modernizing companies. We need to be prepared for different scenarios, act confidently, but not forget to be cautious and flexible, ready for potential changes. The job market is highly sensitive to any disturbances, so positive or negative impacts on organizations are clearly visible,” adds the expert.
35% of surveyed companies plan to recruit new employees, 19% foresee layoffs, and only 4% of firms do not have specific staffing plans for the coming months. 42% of employers intend to maintain their current number of employees.
Transport, Logistics & Automotive, and IT – These Sectors Expect the Highest Competition for Talent
The Barometer ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook data indicates that in Q4 2024, companies in six out of eight analyzed sectors plan to expand their teams. The most optimistic forecasts come from the transport, logistics & automotive sector (+28%) and IT (+27%). There is also considerable recruitment interest from employers in the consumer goods & services sector (+25%) and the industry & raw materials sector (+23%). Recruitment optimism is also evident in the natural sciences & healthcare sector (+16%) and the finance and real estate sector (+12%). Sectors facing potential staff cuts include energy & utilities (-24%) and communication services (-31%).
“The highest recruitment appetites are indicated by companies in the consumer goods and services sector, as well as transport, logistics, and automotive. This is due not only to strengthening new investments but also to seasonality related to the holiday sales peak and events like Black Friday. The high net employment forecast in the IT sector is linked to ongoing digitalization and the continuous demand for cybersecurity specialists and artificial intelligence implementation and maintenance within organizations,” says Tomasz Walenczak.
Medium-Sized Companies Have the Greatest Recruitment Needs
The analysis shows that from October to December, medium-sized companies with 50–249 employees (+28%) and those with 250-999 employees (+23%) are most open to expanding their teams. Organizations with up to 10 employees (+14%) and those with 1000 to 4999 employees (+12%) also show similar recruitment optimism. Companies with teams of 10-49 employees forecast slightly fewer new hires (+10%). The smallest recruitment appetite is declared by the largest employers with over 5000 employees (+2%).
Northwest Poland Offers Many Career Opportunities
According to the ManpowerGroup report, companies located in the northwest of Poland (+23%) show the greatest willingness to hire new employees. Recruitment optimism is also seen in Central Poland (+18%), Northern Poland (+18%), and Southwestern Poland (+18%). Slightly smaller but still optimistic forecasts are for employers in Eastern Poland (+12%), with the smallest optimism in Southern Poland (+7%).
“The end of the year looks promising for companies across all regions of our country. The most intense competition for employees may be expected in the northwest of Poland, but central, southern, and southwestern Poland also report significant recruitment needs. These areas host many distribution and logistics centers, which is also a matter of seasonality in the previously mentioned sectors,” adds Tomasz Walenczak. The coming months will certainly bring a degree of stability and growth, along with a sense of anticipation for what the new year, 2025, will bring. The only certainty is change, which is inevitable for both talent and companies. Flexibility, teamwork, and a willingness to learn and acquire new skills, especially those related to technology, will remain highly valued among candidates. Companies must also remember that the focus remains on people,” concludes Tomasz Walenczak.
Poland Compared to the EMEA Region
Analyzing data for the last months of 2024 for the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region, it is observed that the average result for all countries in the region is +21%, which is 2 percentage points higher quarter-on-quarter and a 3 percentage point decrease year-on-year. Companies in South Africa (+32%), Switzerland (+32%), Ireland (+30%), and the Netherlands (+30%) report the most optimistic recruitment plans for Q4 2024.
