In Poland, a sharp increase in unemployment is being recorded. This creates record competition in the labor market - almost twice as high as four years ago, and directly impacts Ukrainian migrants, who make up a significant portion of the workforce. This is reported by Delo.ua.
What is the unemployment rate in Poland in autumn 2025
By the end of August 2025, 857.3 thousand people were registered at employment centers in Poland, which is 26.6 thousand more than in July, and 85 thousand compared to August of last year. The unemployment rate reached 5.5%, exceeding the 2024 figure by 0.5 percentage points.
The summer trend of rising unemployment in Poland is gaining momentum, complicating job searches for thousands of foreigners, including Ukrainians. Analysts from Gremi Personal, referring to data from the Ministry of Family, Labor, and Social Policy, note growth in key market segments.
Which categories of unemployed have increased in Poland
- The number of those looking for work for 6–12 months has increased by 8.7% compared to June and by 9.5% year-on-year, reaching 157.9 thousand.
- Short-term unemployed (up to six months) increased by 4.5% from June and by 10.9% year-on-year, to 363.5 thousand.
- The largest jump was recorded among those who lost their jobs due to bankruptcies, firm closures, or layoffs: +15.6% year-on-year, to 38.2 thousand.
What is the competition for one job in Poland in 2025
Competition is intensifying: if in 2021 there were about 12 unemployed per vacancy, by August 2025 this figure had jumped to 23 people.
Main factors for the increase in unemployment in numbers
- Total registered: +26.6 thousand from July, +85 thousand from August 2024.
- Long-term unemployed: 157.9 thousand (+9.5% year-on-year).
- Short-term: 363.5 thousand (+10.9% year-on-year).
- Job loss due to company crises: 38.2 thousand (+15.6%).
These changes are partly explained by legislative innovations: as of June 1, 2025, the Law on the Labor Market and Employment Services has come into effect, which eased registration control. Now unemployed people are not required to confirm their readiness to work every month - it is enough to express interest in assistance once every 90 days. This has restrained deregistration for absences, increasing the statistics.
Earlier, we reported that Poland is introducing monthly job checks for Ukrainians.