“The demons of unemployment have returned. In just the last two years, unemployment has increased by more than 200,000 people. That means 200,000 real tragedies. Thousands of households trembling in fear every month. And young people crying out for help”, warns Mateusz Morawiecki, MP for Law and Justice (PiS).
Unemployment in Poland Rising Sharply. Tusk Sees No Reason for Concern
Unemployment in Poland has been steadily increasing since the middle of last year. In June, it stood at 5.2 percent – 0.2 percentage points higher than in May – and in July it rose again by the same margin, reaching 5.4 percent. In the following months, the increase slowed to 0.1 percentage points in August and September, bringing the unemployment rate to 5.6 percent. The same figure was recorded at the end of October and November, and in December there was another slight increase to 5.7 percent.
Data from the Central Statistical Office (GUS) for January will be released on February 24. However, preliminary estimates from the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy indicate that the unemployment rate in January 2026 rose to 6 percent – 0.3 percentage points higher than in December. At that time, 934,800 people were registered at labor offices, an increase of 47,000 compared to the previous month.
Recently, Prime Minister Donald Tusk was asked about the rising unemployment figures. However, he indicated that in his view the latest data are not a cause for concern. “I do not see any serious reason to be worried about the level of Polish unemployment compared to other economies”, he stated.
The reasons behind the growing unemployment were discussed in an interview with the portal filarybiznesu.pl by Dr. Piotr Arak, Chief Economist at VeloBank.
“There are fewer new job offers because businesses, after a period of actively seeking employees, amid current technological changes, have reduced the number of so-called junior positions, which previously accounted for the largest share. There are indeed very few such offers at present. There are also fewer newly created jobs in shared services centers, in the financial sector, or in broadly defined services, where demand for such positions is lower. This is a problem for graduates entering the labor market. It may turn out that it will not be so easy for them to find their dream job. Yes, they may find employment, but it could be less prestigious than the one they aspire to”, he indicated.
Morawiecki: “The Demons of Unemployment Have Returned”
The issue of rising unemployment was also addressed in a video posted on social media by Mateusz Morawiecki, MP for Law and Justice (PiS).
“The demons of unemployment have returned. In just the last two years, unemployment has increased by more than 200,000 people. That means 200,000 real tragedies. Thousands of households trembling in fear every month. And young people crying out for help”, we hear in the recording.
The video then features statements from young people searching for work:
“I have been unemployed since November despite constantly sending out my CV,”
“I would like to have any job at all. And I cannot get one,”
“Does anyone know how to find a job? I have been in one place for three years and have been trying to change that for three years.”
“Tusk has mastered the art of propaganda and PR, but the actions young people are waiting for are still missing”, the material concludes.