According to the latest Salary Report published by Hays Poland, 2025 will see companies adopting a cautious yet adaptable approach to recruitment in response to evolving market conditions. A significant 86% of employers plan to seek new employees, with most predicting that their recruitment activity will remain steady or increase compared to 2024.
Recruitment Challenges Persist
Recruitment remains a challenge for employers, with 53% anticipating difficulties. The primary issues stem from a mismatch between the skills companies need and those available in the market. Additionally, budget constraints and high salary expectations from qualified candidates, who are often not actively seeking employment, further complicate the hiring process.
Despite these challenges, professionals remain confident in their job prospects. Over half (52%) view their career opportunities positively for 2025. Furthermore, 51% of professionals are considering changing employers this year, signaling potential movement in the labor market once recruitment activity picks up.
A Shifting Labor Market
The dynamics of the labor market continue to evolve, with recruitment trends showing less volatility and more of a “U-shaped” trajectory instead of sharp “V-shaped” fluctuations. This indicates that companies are approaching hiring and layoffs with greater caution. While 2025 is expected to mirror the stability of the previous year, even modest economic recovery could significantly boost hiring activity.
“Organizations have adapted to operating in an environment of uncertainty and frequent shifts, often requiring strategic adjustments. In HR, this translates into more cautious hiring decisions and, during crises, a focus on restructuring and upskilling rather than layoffs. Employers recognize the value of retaining key talent,” commented Alex Shteingardt, Managing Director of Hays Poland.
Employers Aware of Market Dynamics
Findings from the Hays Poland Salary Report 2025, based on responses from nearly 1,500 employers and 1,400 professionals, confirm that companies remain mindful of market changes. While recruitment plans have decreased slightly (by 4 percentage points) compared to the previous year’s report, 41% of employers expect permanent job recruitment to increase in 2025. Temporary and external staffing, as well as B2B contracts, are also projected to rise, with 35% and 34% of respondents, respectively, expecting growth in these areas.
Business development (49%) and replacing departing employees (35%) are the main drivers of planned recruitment in 2025.
Recruitment Challenges Persist
Reduced recruitment activity has not eased the challenges of finding qualified candidates. Over half (53%) of employers still expect difficulties in 2025. While companies often receive numerous job applications, many do not meet their high standards. Meanwhile, the candidates who do possess the desired qualifications tend not to be actively seeking employment, often commanding high salary expectations to offset the risks associated with changing jobs.
“Candidates who match recruitment profiles are often not interested in changing jobs, and their financial expectations exceed budget limits. Employers are reluctant to raise planned salaries due to cost discipline and wage structures aligned with the upcoming pay transparency directive,” noted Agnieszka Kolenda, Executive Director at Hays Poland.
As many as 58% of employers agree that candidates have unrealistic salary expectations, while 38% report a shortage of specialists and managerial talent. Interestingly, the number of candidates applying for jobs has increased, with a 13 percentage point rise in respondents observing this trend.
Economic Recovery Could Drive Increased Turnover
Despite mixed signals from the labor market, 52% of professionals remain optimistic about their career prospects in 2025. At the same time, 51% are considering changing employers this year. While not all will actively seek new roles, this highlights the underlying dissatisfaction in the current job market. Satisfaction with work, including pay and work-life balance, has declined, encouraging many to explore new opportunities.
“Experienced experts with advanced skills, technical knowledge, and soft skills still feel confident in the job market. While many have hesitated to change jobs recently, 2025 could see them actively seeking better opportunities. Lower job satisfaction, especially regarding pay and work-life balance, may prompt them to move,” Kolenda concluded.
Shteingardt added, “The greatest challenge for companies will be balancing budget constraints with employee satisfaction while offering competitive packages to candidates. While this won’t be easy, companies that excel in this area will gain a competitive edge in the talent market as the economy recovers.”
About the Report
The Hays Salary Report provides a comprehensive overview of salaries offered to specialists and managers across more than 500 positions. It includes expert commentary and insights from surveys conducted in late 2024, capturing perspectives from nearly 1,500 employers and 1,400 employees and job seekers.
Source: ManagerPlus.pl
