Between April and the end of June 2025, 33% of companies plan new hires, 46% do not anticipate any changes in their workforce, and 18% foresee layoffs. The net employment outlook for Poland in Q2 2025, reflecting recruitment sentiment, stands at +17%. These figures come from the latest ManpowerGroup report, which presents companies’ hiring plans. Which region in Poland will offer the most job opportunities? Which industries will be in high demand for new professionals? The latest “ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Barometer” provides insights.
The data from the “ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Barometer” shows that Poland’s net employment outlook, indicating companies’ intent to recruit new staff, stands at +17%. This is the highest result since Q1 2024. Compared to the previous quarter, the forecast has increased by 1 percentage point (pp) and by 5 pp year-over-year.
A Consistent Upward Trend in Hiring Sentiment
“For a year, we have observed a stable upward trend, with employers’ hiring sentiment steadily improving. While quarterly changes are not drastic, maintaining a positive direction is crucial. We see a demand for employees, with nearly all industries in our survey looking to recruit new staff. Companies are investing in new talent mainly to support growth, expand into new markets and operational areas, and meet the demand for new skills. Many are also filling vacancies left by departing employees, and high turnover suggests favorable conditions for job changes, with attractive opportunities available to candidates,” says Tomasz Walenczak, General Manager of ManpowerGroup in Poland.
“On the other hand, we recognize economic challenges impacting employment strategies. Some companies face declining demand for their products and services, while others are implementing automation and optimization processes. Many organizations focus on stabilization and maintaining their existing workforce, believing their current resources are sufficient to meet business objectives. They consider the labor market stable and do not anticipate industry-wide changes affecting employment,” he adds.
“The second quarter of the year is a key period for many companies. After budget approvals in Q1, they begin executing their development plans. It is also a time of intensified recruitment activities, particularly for summer internship and apprenticeship programs, as well as hiring graduates who completed their studies earlier in the year. We also see increased activity in the e-commerce and logistics sectors, driven by seasonal collection changes and sales. This leads to higher demand for workers in distribution centers, warehouses, and transportation. Given the changing economic environment, flexible human capital management is becoming essential. Organizations that can adjust their hiring strategies to seasonal and economic challenges will gain a competitive edge,” Walenczak concludes.
Finance & Real Estate and Life Sciences & Healthcare Lead the Race for New Talent
The ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Barometer indicates that in Q2 2025, companies in seven out of eight analyzed sectors plan to recruit new employees. Employers in the finance & real estate sector (+24%) show the highest hiring appetite in 1.5 years. The life sciences & healthcare sector also reports a +24% outlook, its highest in a year, followed by transportation, logistics & automotive (+23%). The IT sector (+21%) and industrial & raw materials sector (+20%) also plan significant hiring. Slightly lower employment forecasts come from the consumer goods & services sector (+18%) and the energy & resources sector (+17%). The only sector anticipating workforce reductions is communications services, with a forecast of -35%.
Central Poland Offers the Most Job Opportunities
ManpowerGroup’s analysis also breaks down employment trends by region. Companies in central Poland (+20%) and eastern Poland (+19%) show the highest hiring optimism, meaning ample job opportunities for candidates seeking new career paths. Moderate hiring appetite is seen in companies in the northwest (+16%), north (+15%), and southwest (+12%) regions of Poland. Employers in southern Poland report the lowest, though still positive, hiring forecast at +8%.
Small Businesses and Large Corporations Lead Hiring Efforts
The most open to expanding their teams are small businesses with 10–49 employees (+26%). Slightly lower hiring plans are seen in companies with 50–249 employees (+20%). Large corporations with over 5,000 employees expect a +16% hiring outlook, while organizations with 1,000–4,999 employees also plan moderate recruitment. The most challenging situation in Q2 2025 will be for micro-enterprises (up to 10 employees), which report a hiring forecast of -3%, indicating slight workforce reductions.
Poland Slightly Below the Regional Average
Looking at Q2 2025 data for the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region, the average hiring forecast stands at +20%. This represents a 1 pp increase compared to the previous quarter and a 4 pp rise year-over-year. Companies in the United Kingdom (+31%), the Netherlands (+27%), and Norway (+27%) show the strongest need for workforce expansion. Notably, businesses in all 23 surveyed countries indicate plans to recruit new employees between April and June 2025.
Source: https://managerplus.pl/co-trzecia-firma-chce-zatrudniac-nowych-pracownikow-co-piata-zwalniac-92224
