Employers are not putting recruitment on hold, and 43% expect their hiring activity to be higher in the coming months than it was during the first half of 2026. These are among the findings of the Hays Poland report, Labour Market 2026: Mid-Year Trends Review.
Companies report difficulties in finding suitable candidates for specialist and managerial positions, while at the same time observing that more people are applying for jobs than in the past. The conclusion is that employers’ expectations are increasingly misaligned with the skills and expectations of jobseekers.
As many as 90% of the companies surveyed by Hays Poland plan to recruit during the second half of 2026. In the opening months of the year, 95% conducted recruitment processes.
The proportion of employers expecting recruitment difficulties over the next six months increased from 47% to 52%. At the same time, 23% predict that hiring employees in the second half of 2026 will be more difficult than during the first six months of the year.
Among the professionals surveyed, 63% said they were considering changing jobs during the second half of 2026. However, as many as 35% assessed their career prospects negatively.
By mid-2026, the Polish labour market presents a picture full of contradictions. Companies are still planning to recruit, but finding candidates who match both their requirements and their financial capabilities remains a challenge.
“Navigating a labour market shaped by so many trends, which at first glance often appear contradictory, is difficult for both employers and professionals. The Polish labour market increasingly requires precision from both sides. Employers should clearly identify which competencies are absolutely essential, while specialists need to consciously plan their development and the next steps in their careers,” said Alex Shteingardt, Managing Director of Hays Poland.
He was commenting on the findings of the latest report, Labour Market 2026: Mid-Year Trends Review, which surveyed more than 500 companies and nearly 900 professionals.
Skills Shortages Are Becoming a Growing Problem
Rapidly changing economic conditions, technological advances and companies’ efforts to increase productivity are having an increasingly strong impact on staffing needs.
While demand for some skills is declining, demand for others is growing at a rapid pace, creating a significant challenge for organisations. According to the Hays survey, employers are increasingly struggling with skills gaps.
A total of 85% of the organisations surveyed said they had experienced a skills shortage, an increase of 14 percentage points compared with the beginning of 2026.
Has Your Company Experienced a Skills Gap During the Past Six Months?
Employers’ perspective
| Response | Share |
|---|---|
| Yes, to a significant extent | 24% |
| Yes, to a moderate extent | 37% |
| Yes, to a limited extent | 24% |
| No | 15% |
Source: Hays Poland, “Labour Market 2026: Mid-Year Trends Review”, August 2026
“Companies’ workforces are often simply unable to keep pace with the rapid technological and operational changes currently taking place across many organisations. Constantly emerging competency needs are, in turn, helping to sustain recruitment activity,” Shteingardt said.
“This is confirmed by the results of our survey. Not only did more companies recruit during the first half of 2026 than had planned to do so in January, but 43% now expect their activity to increase during the second half of the year,” he added.
Companies Plan to Recruit but Expect Difficulties
The findings are clear: companies want to recruit, but they are also aware that attracting employees who meet their expectations will not be easy.
Recruitment difficulties during the second half of 2026 are expected by 52% of organisations. Moreover, 53% of the employers surveyed believe there is a shortage of candidates for specialist and managerial roles.
Although these figures might suggest that the current labour market overwhelmingly favours candidates, the reality is more complex and less clear-cut.
“Finding the right candidates remains a challenge for companies. On the one hand, employers are struggling to identify experts with the appropriate skills, experience and attitudes required to operate effectively in a rapidly changing environment. On the other hand, an even greater challenge is the high salary expectations of candidates who meet these requirements,” Shteingardt said.
Companies participating in the Hays survey also highlighted other trends. Some 42% pointed to candidates’ unrealistic salary expectations, while the same proportion observed that more people were applying for jobs than in the past. This corresponds with professionals’ own career plans.
Professionals Want Career Changes but Remain Cautious
As many as 63% of the specialists surveyed are considering changing employers before the end of 2026. The most frequently cited reasons include a lack of development opportunities at their current company, unsatisfactory pay, relations with managers and uncertainty about job security.
Since January 2026, the proportion of professionals considering a job change has increased by 15 percentage points.
Are You Considering Changing Jobs in the Second Half of 2026?
Employees’ perspective
Source: Hays Poland, “Labour Market 2026: Mid-Year Trends Review”, August 2026
Labour market experts emphasise that while candidates are willing to participate in recruitment processes, their final decisions depend on numerous factors that they assess very carefully.
Uncertainty and volatility in the labour market continue to play a major role in determining the career decisions made by professionals.
“Although candidates are willing to enter into discussions, they are not in a hurry to change jobs unless the move offers sufficiently attractive conditions and employment stability. Employees still have concerns about making such decisions in the current market environment,” Shteingardt said.
“Technological progress, numerous changes and their impact on the labour market may explain why only 33% of specialists assess their career prospects positively. One positive consequence of this uncertainty, however, may be a greater willingness to pursue upskilling and adapt competencies to the labour market’s new requirements,” he added.
Skills remain the most valuable currency for both companies and individual professionals. Success in the labour market during the second half of 2026 will continue to depend on employees’ competencies and the extent to which their abilities match the needs of organisations.
About the Report
The Hays Poland report, Labour Market 2026: Mid-Year Trends Review, was prepared using data collected through a computer-assisted web interview survey conducted between June and July 2026.
The study covered more than 500 companies and nearly 900 professionals. Its purpose was to present current labour market trends and assess whether the plans declared at the end of the previous year had been implemented.
The results were compared with corresponding figures obtained from the survey presented in the 2026 Salary Guide in January 2026.
Source: CEO.com.pl
