Poland’s economy grew 3.9% year on year in the second quarter of 2026, while industrial output, corporate profitability and investment improved. The labour market moved in the opposite direction: employment in the enterprise sector fell 1.1%, while the number of registered unemployed rose by 104,500 from a year earlier.
At the end of June, 901,500 people were registered as unemployed, up 13.1% year on year. The registered unemployment rate reached 5.8%, 0.7 percentage points higher than a year earlier. Unemployment increased in all 16 voivodeships.
Companies improve profits and investment
Among surveyed non-financial companies, revenue rose 7.1% while costs increased 5.9%. Net financial results were 30.6% higher than a year earlier. Net profitability improved from 4.0% to 4.8%.
Investment spending by surveyed companies reached PLN 100.2 billion and was 13.7% higher in real terms. However, the number of newly started investment projects fell 13.6%, while their estimated value declined 20.1%.
The data show a clear divergence: companies are currently generating stronger financial results, but this has not yet translated into stronger demand for labour.
Source: Statistics Poland (GUS), Socio-Economic Situation of Voivodeships No. 2/2026.
