A survey of 1,500 firms conducted by recruitment company Hays Poland found that 86 percent of employers plan to recruit new staff in the new year.
Business growth is the primary reason for hiring in nearly half of these cases, driven by expectations of an economic rebound and shifts in business models requiring new skills.
The demand is particularly strong for managerial, sales and digital (IT) skills, which remain among the most sought-after in the Polish job market.
However, 25 percent of surveyed companies report struggling to find workers with the necessary qualifications.
While slightly fewer employers are planning to hire than a year ago—when 90 percent expected to recruit—the chances of filling vacancies appear to be higher. This is partly because fewer firms anticipate difficulties in attracting candidates.
According to Andrzej Kubisiak, deputy director of the Polish Economic Institute (PIE), Poland’s labor market is under less strain than before.
The institute’s Monthly Economic Index shows that in December, 45 percent of businesses cited labor shortages as a barrier to operations, down from 51 percent a year earlier.
Despite this, rising labor costs remain the biggest challenge for companies, Kubisiak told Rzeczpospolita.
The Hays report also highlights a growing mismatch between employer budgets and candidate salary expectations. Well over half of the firms surveyed said job seekers often demand unrealistic pay.
Employers are also less willing to increase wages under pressure, while top candidates often prefer to stay in their current roles.
(rt/gs)
Source: PAP