Economic instability, the risk of being replaced by artificial intelligence, and organisational restructuring are currently the main sources of job-related stress among employees in Poland, according to a new analysis by ManpowerGroup. Only one in four workers says they have no concerns about their professional future. Women and remote workers report higher levels of anxiety about job security than men and those working on-site.
The study asked employees in Poland and globally about their biggest workplace concerns. For Polish respondents, economic uncertainty ranks as the top issue, cited by 33% of workers. This is followed by fears of being replaced by AI or new technologies, as well as concerns about restructuring, both mentioned by 20% of respondents.
What keeps employees up at night?
Further down the list of concerns are mass layoffs (19%) and the possibility of being replaced by workers from abroad (16%). Some employees are also worried about falling behind in terms of skills, especially in areas related to automation and artificial intelligence (13%). Less frequently mentioned, but still notable, are concerns about outsourcing (10%) and the potential requirement to return to the office, which for some could mean losing the flexibility to continue working (6%). At the same time, 28% of respondents say they have no work-related worries at all.
As Katarzyna Pączkowska, Head of Permanent Recruitment at Manpower, points out, the current labour market climate has a strong influence on career decisions. A sense of stability is becoming more important than salary or development opportunities alone. During recruitment processes, candidates increasingly ask about a company’s financial condition, restructuring plans and approach to AI and automation.
According to the expert, the labour market is now operating in an environment of prolonged uncertainty and rapid change. Rather than a single crisis, employees are dealing with an extended period of instability that began with the pandemic and has been intensified by inflation, technological transformation, layoffs in large companies and geopolitical tensions. This ongoing volatility naturally weakens the sense of job security.
At the same time, while technological progress is leading to automation, it mainly affects repetitive tasks rather than entire roles. This means that fears of job loss due to AI are only partially justified. What is becoming crucial, however, is continuous upskilling and the development of digital competencies, enabling employees to effectively work alongside new technologies.
From a recruitment perspective, the labour market is evolving towards more hybrid roles that combine multiple areas of expertise. Routine tasks are disappearing, while demand is growing for skills related to data, technology, adaptability and the ability to learn quickly. Organisations that actively invest in reskilling their workforce are better able to reduce anxiety and employee turnover.
Differences across sectors
The analysis also highlights clear differences between industries. The highest sense of job security is found among employees in manufacturing and the raw materials sector, where 35% report no concerns about their jobs. In healthcare and life sciences, this figure stands at 33%, while in transport, logistics and automotive it reaches 30%.
In contrast, the least secure workers are found in communication services, where no respondents reported being free of concerns, and in finance and real estate, where only 16% feel secure.
Gender gap in job security perceptions
Men are more likely than women to report feeling secure in their jobs. Around 32% of male respondents say they have no work-related concerns, compared with 24% of women. While the sources of anxiety are similar, their intensity differs.
Men are more concerned about economic instability (36% versus 29% of women), while women more often fear being replaced by AI (22% compared with 18% of men), restructuring (23% versus 17%) and being forced to return to the office (8% versus 4%).
Older workers feel more secure
Significant differences are also visible across generations. Baby Boomers (aged 61–79) report the highest sense of job security, with as many as 52% saying they have no concerns. At the other end of the spectrum are Millennials, among whom only 25% express such confidence. Generation X stands at 27%, while Generation Z reaches 30%.
For Generation X, economic instability remains the primary source of stress, cited by 39% of respondents. It is least frequently mentioned by Generation Z (20%). Concerns about being replaced by AI are lowest among Baby Boomers (5%) and highest among younger employees—Generation Z and Millennials (both at 24%). Restructuring is most concerning for Generation X (27%) and least for Generation Z (7%).
As Pączkowska explains, Generation Z is entering the labour market during a period of turbulence and has not experienced long-term professional stability. While their expectations are high, their limited experience amplifies feelings of uncertainty. In contrast, more experienced workers tend to have greater confidence in their transferable skills and a better ability to adapt to change.
Remote work linked to higher anxiety
Work model also plays a role in perceived job security. Employees working fully remotely report the highest levels of concern, with only 20% saying they have no work-related worries. Among hybrid workers, this figure rises to 29%, and among on-site employees to 33%.
Interestingly, economic uncertainty is least often cited by remote workers (29%), compared with hybrid (34%) and on-site employees (41%). However, concerns about being replaced by technology are highest among remote workers (40%), while only 9% of on-site employees share this fear. Among hybrid workers, the figure stands at 13%. Concerns about restructuring are most common among on-site employees (22%), compared with 19% among remote workers and 18% among hybrid employees.
Although flexible work models remain widespread, there has been a gradual return to on-site work in Poland. Employees working on-site or in hybrid models are more likely to feel integrated into their organisations. Remote workers, on the other hand, often feel more replaceable, which increases their concerns about job stability. Their relationships with teams and employers tend to be weaker, and their performance is more task-based, making them feel more exposed to automation or outsourcing.
Global perspective: uncertainty dominates
Globally, employees most frequently point to economic instability, restructuring and layoffs as their main concerns. Fears of being replaced by technology, falling behind in skills and outsourcing are also common.
At the same time, around 30% of workers worldwide say they feel secure and have no concerns about their jobs, indicating that while uncertainty is widespread, a significant portion of the workforce remains confident about its future.
