Labour demand in Poland declined in 2024 despite rise in job creation and liquidations

Statistics Poland has released its annual report on the labour market, showing a complex picture of employment trends for 2024. While both the number of occupied and vacant jobs declined compared to 2023, there was a notable increase in job turnover, with more positions created and liquidated during the year.

According to the “Labour Demand in 2024” report, the average number of occupied jobs fell to 12.3 million, a decrease of 1.3% year-on-year. Similarly, job vacancies dropped to 107,000, down 2.1 thousand from the previous year. The job vacancy rate also slipped slightly from 0.87% to 0.86%.

The industry sector continued to dominate both employment and job vacancies. It accounted for over 25% of occupied jobs and nearly 23% of all job openings, with large enterprises (50+ employees) responsible for the bulk of hiring. The professional occupational group remained the largest segment of both filled and unfilled roles, representing around one-quarter of all positions.

Interestingly, job creation surged to 465,100 in 2024, up 6% from 2023, while liquidated jobs rose by 2.6% to 259,000. This resulted in a net gain of 206,100 jobs, maintaining a positive trend seen since 2015. For every job eliminated, 1.8 new ones were created.

The retail and motor vehicle repair sector led in job creation, with 90,100 new roles—an increase of more than 20% from the year before. In contrast, the accommodation and food service sector saw the sharpest decline in new job creation, falling by 16.6%.

On the regional level, the job vacancy rate varied significantly, ranging from 0.44% in the Świętokrzyskie region to 1.07% in Dolnośląskie and the Warsaw metropolitan region. Among sectors, construction and information and communication showed the highest vacancy rates at 1.85% and 1.50%, respectively.

The report was compiled by the Statistical Office in Bydgoszcz and reflects data collected quarterly throughout the year. It provides valuable insights for policymakers and businesses, highlighting ongoing labour shortages in key sectors despite overall employment softness.