Do you know who employers are looking to hire in your voivodship? Do you check forecasts on which occupations will be in demand over the coming years? If you take an interest in the labour market and want to find professions that will not become obsolete after twelve months, here are several sources well worth consulting.
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What is happening in the European labour market?
Shifts in the labour market are not confined to Poland. A prominent example of an institution monitoring these developments across the European Union is CEDEFOP, the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (French: Centre Européen pour le Développement de la Formation Professionnelle).
What do CEDEFOP’s latest analyses highlight? They point out, for instance, that:
- specialists are moving abroad in search of work – shortages across specific sectors are driving labour migration;
- certain occupations are becoming increasingly automated;
- roles requiring entirely new skill sets are emerging.
CEDEFOP’s latest projections cover the period from 2022 to 2035 and illustrate both rising and falling demand across a wide range of occupations. The Centre notes that employment will decline in sectors such as agriculture, forestry, mining, and energy supply services. Conversely, recruitment will rise substantially in areas such as:
- healthcare,
- information technology,
- communications technology,
- customer service, and
- social care.
The findings demonstrate that highly skilled workers will play a crucial role across both manual and non-manual professions.
Where to look for data on the demand for specialists in Poland?
Naturally, numerous academic institutions, research bodies, private companies, and independent analysts carry out their own studies both in Poland and abroad. We have selected several proven sources where you can access reliable information on occupations, sectors, demand forecasts, and other facets of the domestic labour market.
Statistics Poland (GUS)
Statistics Poland carries out extensive analyses of the labour market, examining unemployment rates as well as sector-specific recruitment needs and employment figures across individual occupations.
According to data at the end of the first quarter of 2026, there were over 100,000 job vacancies, and nearly 15 million people were in employment during the first month of that year.
Since 2021, GUS has conducted a labour demand survey every two years. Results from the most recent edition show that surveyed businesses were seeking to fill a total of 411,400 positions in the first quarter of 2024 – 3.0 percentage points lower than in the corresponding period of 2021. Highly qualified candidates were in particular demand, with 32.6% of vacancies being roles for business and administration professionals. Nonetheless, there was clearly no shortage of work for industrial workers (including construction trades) and skilled craftspeople.
Nor should we overlook the Labour Force Survey (BAEL). This survey reveals, for instance, which voivodship boasts the most dynamic labour market, whether and how workers combine employment with education, what the most common forms of employment are, and how many hours people spend at work.
Ministry of National Education (MEN)
Each year, the Ministry of National Education publishes a forecast of the demand for specialists from sectoral vocational education across Poland. This year, the national register of occupations of particular significance to the country included: automation technician, carpenter, electrician, mechanic-driver, machinery and equipment mechanic-fitter, mechatronics technician, industrial insulation fitter, and road construction technician. It is also well worth reviewing the regional breakdowns by voivodship and by the level of demand for specific trades.
Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP)
In partnership with the Jagiellonian University, PARP conducts a cyclical study of the labour market and the factors shaping it. The Human Capital Study (BKL) examines various facets of market performance and surveys diverse groups of respondents. The team is currently assessing whether enterprises are prepared to adopt artificial intelligence solutions and deploy them effectively. They are also investigating hidden labour market reserves – namely women and carers of dependants, older and younger workers, foreign nationals, and persons with disabilities – and exploring how to activate these groups or encourage employers to hire them (see the published study reports).
Regional Labour Office in Kraków
The “Occupational Barometer” is a one-year forecast compiled by the Regional Labour Office in Kraków. It illustrates the demand for specialists in every poviat, at the voivodship level, and nationwide. The Barometer categorises occupations into three groups:
- shortage – where employers struggle to recruit suitable candidates;
- balanced – where the number of vacancies roughly matches the number of jobseekers;
- surplus – where candidates outnumber available vacancies.
It is well worth seeing how demand shapes up in practice. You can apply filters to focus exclusively on the occupations that interest you most – such as electricians or HGV and articulated lorry drivers – and compare them with previous years, assess other professions, or benchmark entire sectors.
The Integrated Qualifications Register and the Sectoral Vocational Education Compass
If you are looking for up-to-date, authoritative information on industry sectors and qualifications, consult:
- The Integrated Qualifications Register – a public database containing descriptions of qualifications included in the IQS. It enables you to verify what a given qualification covers, the learning outcomes it certifies, who is authorised to award it, and how it can be obtained. It serves as an invaluable tool when comparing potential professional development pathways or checking what a certificate genuinely validates;
- The Sectoral Vocational Education Compass – this resource offers clear explanations of what a given occupation entails, how to enter the field, and where to find educational institutions across Poland that prepare students for that career. You can also compare qualifications to gain insight into which professions offer graduates the highest earnings or the quickest transitions into employment after completing their education.
What do certificates issued for qualifications in the IQS tell us?
Data collected on a quarterly and annual basis illustrate prevailing trends among workers in Poland, showing that employees are increasingly pursuing formal qualifications. In 2025, the number of certificates issued rose by more than 320% compared to the previous year: reaching over 15,000 in 2025, up from roughly 3,600 in 2024 (internal data). What does this mean? It indicates growing demand for market and sectoral qualifications – that is, formal qualifications attained outside mainstream education. Lifelong learning and professional development are increasingly treated as long-term investments that facilitate promotions, career transitions, and continuous upskilling throughout working life. Flexible, modular programmes that validate practical skills are designed to streamline this process and ensure a swift response to changing market demands.
A valuable source of knowledge to guide your way
While official reports and government publications rarely make for light reading over a cup of coffee, they are well worth consulting. They assess the current state of the economy and employment, provide projections for the years ahead, and help you navigate the labour market with greater confidence, both in Poland and abroad. Decisions regarding education and career paths can be daunting, whether you are seeking long-term professional stability or aiming to adapt swiftly to technological changes and industry innovations. A trusted, reputable source can therefore serve as an ideal starting point, providing reliable guidance as you map out your future career.
Want to know more?
Consult:
- the “Occupational Barometer” for your poviat;
- the MEN forecast, if you are considering a sectoral vocational school or technical secondary school;
- the Sectoral Vocational Education Compass, if you wish to compare different occupations;
- the Integrated Qualifications Register, if you want to know what a given qualification validates and where it can be attained.