One in three companies in Poland plans to recruit new employees between July and September 2026. At the same time, one in five employers expects to reduce headcount, while nearly half intend to keep staffing levels unchanged. These are the key findings of the latest ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey, in which employers revealed their hiring plans for the coming quarter. According to the report, the strongest opportunities for job seekers will be found in hospitality, restaurants and tourism, as well as in technology and IT services. The highest level of recruitment optimism is reported by employers in northern and south-western Poland.
ManpowerGroup has published its latest report on companies’ recruitment plans for the next quarter. The Net Employment Outlook, which reflects hiring sentiment among employers in Poland, stands at +16%. According to the survey, 33% of employers expect to increase their workforce in the third quarter, 18% plan reductions, 47% do not anticipate any staffing changes, while 2% are unsure about their employment plans for the coming months. Companies are hiring mainly because of business growth and technological development, while job cuts are largely the result of economic pressure and optimisation measures.
HoReCa and IT Drive Recruitment
The highest share of companies planning new recruitment is recorded in the hotel and restaurant sector, where the outlook stands at +28%, as well as in technology and IT services, also at +28%. Strong optimism is also reported by employers in finance and insurance, with an outlook of +25%, construction and real estate at +24%, and trade and logistics at +21%.
More moderate, but still positive, opportunities for job seekers are expected in professional, scientific and technical services, where the outlook stands at +18%, and in information and communication at +10%. The weakest hiring plans are reported by companies in the public sector, healthcare and social services, where the employment outlook is +6%.
Employment Map: Northern Poland in the Lead
Between July and September 2026, job opportunities are expected to appear in all regions of Poland. The strongest demand for workers is declared by organisations in the northern part of the country, where the Net Employment Outlook reaches +28%. Employers in south-western Poland report an outlook of +20%, while companies in the south indicate +19%.
Slightly more cautious plans are reported by employers in central Poland, where the outlook stands at +9%, as well as in eastern and north-western Poland, both at +7%. Nevertheless, all regions remain in positive territory, suggesting continued opportunities for candidates looking for new employment.
Companies Hire to Grow and Cut Jobs to Survive
Organisations in Poland plan to hire new employees primarily because of business expansion. This reason is cited by 46% of companies. Another 34% point to expansion into new markets, while 22% say technological progress is creating demand for new skills and specialists.
In addition, 19% of employers indicate the need to increase workforce diversity and to fill vacancies created by employee departures in the previous quarter.
Employment reductions are mainly driven by economic challenges, cited by 31% of employers. Another 29% point to the need to adjust workforce levels to current demand, while 22% mention broader market changes. One in five employers says they are not replacing employees who have left, while focusing instead on process optimisation and combining roles.
Companies that do not plan any staffing changes most often say their current employment level is sufficient to meet business objectives. This answer was given by 38% of employers. They also point to market stability, cited by 24%, and to strategies focused on retaining existing employees, mentioned by 23%.
About the Survey
The ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey for the third quarter of 2026 was prepared on the basis of research conducted between 1 and 30 April 2026 among 40,592 employers representing 42 markets worldwide. In Poland, the survey covered 515 employers.
