Only 14% of employed people aged over 50 in Poland are satisfied with their jobs, according to the ninth wave of the SHARE study. This may influence whether they choose to remain economically active.
Researchers point out that countries with a larger proportion of dissatisfied employees tend to have lower employment rates among older age groups. This is an important warning for policymakers and businesses, which will face increasingly serious workforce shortages in the coming decades as a result of demographic change.
“In the SHARE study, we examine various aspects of job satisfaction among people aged 50 and over. We ask whether their work is physically demanding, whether they experience time pressure, whether they are satisfied with their opportunities for development and their pay, whether they have prospects for promotion and whether they feel supported by colleagues and have autonomy in performing their duties,” Dr Agnieszka Chłoń-Domińczak, Professor at the SGH Warsaw School of Economics, Chair of the Government Population Council and leader of Poland’s SHARE research team, told the Newseria news agency.
“Across all the countries covered by the study, including Israel and 27 European countries, approximately 20% of respondents are genuinely satisfied with their work,” she added.
The study, based on data from the ninth wave of SHARE, the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe, conducted in 2021 and 2022, identified four groups among more than 4,800 economically active respondents aged 50 and over.
The largest group consisted of dissatisfied employees, who accounted for 27% of respondents. They were followed by workers experiencing physical fatigue, at 26.8%, and discouraged employees, at 25.2%.
This means that approximately 80% of workers aged 50 and over experience limited job satisfaction, although for different reasons.
Poland Among the Countries with the Lowest Satisfaction Levels
The study found significant differences between countries. Data presented during the sixth Congress of Polish Statistics showed that slightly more than 14% of respondents in Poland reported being satisfied with their work. By comparison, the figure in Switzerland was 42%.
Almost 38% of employed Poles aged over 50 were classified as physically fatigued, nearly 30% as dissatisfied and 18.2% as discouraged.
“The proportion of dissatisfied employees in Poland is higher than the European average. We also have a relatively large group of people who feel physically exhausted by their work,” Chłoń-Domińczak said.
“The situation varies considerably between countries. The Nordic countries have the highest proportion of employees who are satisfied with their jobs. Central and Eastern Europe, as well as Southern Europe, have the lowest levels of job satisfaction,” she explained.
According to the researcher, other studies suggest that this may partly be because Polish people work longer hours than employees in many other countries.
Eurostat data show that the average working week in Poland in 2025 was 38.7 hours. Bulgaria recorded the same result, while only employees in Greece worked longer, averaging 39.6 hours per week.
The EU average was slightly below 36 hours. The shortest average working weeks were recorded in the Netherlands, at 31.9 hours, Germany and Denmark, both at 33.9 hours, and Austria, at 34 hours.
“We do not have a well-developed culture of balancing professional and family life, nor do we have flexicurity models combining labour-market flexibility with social protection, such as those implemented in Nordic countries,” Chłoń-Domińczak said.
“We also have a somewhat different educational profile and labour-market structure. All these factors need to be taken into account when interpreting the results.”
Remote Work Reduced Physical Fatigue
The ninth wave of the study was conducted in 2021 and 2022, meaning that it also captured changes in the labour market caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Researchers found that work disruptions resulting from lockdowns had only a limited impact on perceived job satisfaction. However, remote work reduced the proportion of employees classified as physically fatigued.
“We also examined how individual characteristics such as education and gender affect job satisfaction. People with higher levels of education generally report greater satisfaction,” the leader of Poland’s SHARE research team said.
“Gender differences are not large, although women are more likely to feel discouraged.”
Job Satisfaction Influences Decisions to Remain in Work
Experts emphasise that job satisfaction is a crucial factor in determining whether people aged over 50 continue working. This is particularly important for those who have already become eligible for retirement.
The CBOS study Economic Activity of Older People found that almost one in five pension recipients remains economically active. Of this group, 63% plan to remain in employment for as long as possible.
Job satisfaction is among the most important factors motivating them to continue working.
“Countries with a higher proportion of people who are satisfied with their jobs also have higher employment rates among those aged between 55 and 64,” Chłoń-Domińczak said.
“The reverse relationship is even stronger. Where fewer people are satisfied with their work, fewer older people remain in employment. This clearly demonstrates the enormous importance of ensuring appropriate job quality and working conditions.”
She said employers should consider how tasks are allocated to reduce time pressure, give employees greater autonomy, recognise their contribution and build supportive workplace relationships.
Better Conditions Could Help Retain Older Employees
The findings are significant not only for employers but also for institutions responsible for shaping labour-market policy.
Improving working conditions, including reducing physical strain and strengthening employment security, could become an important part of policies aimed at extending working lives.
“We should consider how to target the various instruments that support employee job satisfaction,” Chłoń-Domińczak said.
“These may include the use of training funds, tools available through labour offices, programmes financed by the European Social Fund and measures designed to create appropriate working conditions. The Social Insurance Institution also offers funding for prevention and solutions that support safe, high-quality workplaces.”
Poland’s Ageing Population Will Increase Labour Shortages
Encouraging people to remain economically active for longer is becoming necessary because of the rapid ageing of Polish society and the shrinking labour force.
According to Statistics Poland, people aged over 60 accounted for 26.6% of the country’s population in 2024. Forecasts indicate that this proportion will increase to 37% by 2050.
A CBOS study conducted in May 2026, entitled Expectations Concerning One’s Own Old Age, found that eight out of 10 respondents aged under 60 expected to support themselves primarily through a pension in later life.
At the same time, a majority of approximately 60% expected to continue earning money, at least on an occasional or part-time basis.
“The number of employees aged over 50 in the labour market will continue to grow, so it is worth taking care of this group,” Chłoń-Domińczak concluded.
“The future of our labour market will depend to a large extent on these workers.”
