The ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Barometer shows that between January and March 2026, 36 percent plan to increase the number of employees. companies. At the same time, 13 percent employers announce employment reductions, and almost half (47%) do not anticipate any changes. Four percent employers have not yet made personnel decisions.
— The recovery in the labor market results primarily from more bold recruitment activities of companies, which is natural at the beginning of the year. The last quarter is usually characterized by caution, a slowdown in building resources and planning the next months. The first quarter complements the recruitment goals set at the end of the previous year, thanks to which we are observing a stir on the labor market – comments Agnieszka Adamiec, labor market expert at Manpower.
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There will be no mass recruitment. The labor market needs specialists.
Companies from three sectors declare the greatest appetite for new employees: automotive (+43 percent), finance and insurance (+35%) and trade and logistics (+32%). These are the factors that contribute most to the optimistic results of the indicator.
As Agnieszka Adamiec emphasizes, however, it is not about a return to mass recruitment, but about more specialized roles.
— Positive employment forecasts result primarily from plans to recruit specialists – mainly in the financial and insurance industries, transport and logistics, and trade. We are talking about quality recruitment, not mass recruitment – he points out.
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Work in the automotive industry? Only for specialists Employment prospects in the first quarter of 2026 in Poland
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ManpowerGroup
In the context of reports about economic fluctuations and reductions in the automotive industry, the results of the study may be surprising. It is this sector that shows the highest employment forecast on the market.
— Poland is a country that supplies semi-finished products for the production of vehicles – the increasing demand for the production of subassemblies and vehicle equipment elements significantly affects the need to employ specialists – explains the Manpower expert.
As he adds, However, positive forecasts should be viewed mainly through the prism of specialization. The industry is adapting to market expectations and transformations by engaging smaller but more specialized teams in production processes.
— This will not bring balance in the sector – the number of people employed in the industry will be lower, but candidates with specific, high competences will still have the opportunity to find employment. – he explains.
Finance, insurance and technology: growing thanks to digitalization
The report shows that the finance and insurance sector is one of the drivers of employment growth – in Poland and globally. The development of technology, automation and data analytics result in the creation of new, highly specialized roles.
As Tomasz Walenczak, general director of ManpowerGroup in Poland, emphasizes, organizations know more and more precisely who they really need. — Companies precisely identify competence gaps, conduct talent audits and clearly define the profiles of candidates who are key to further development. The importance of analytical, technological and operational competences is growing. This means that the first quarter will be a period of recruitment in highly specialized areas, he explains.
Agnieszka Adamiec points out that the increase in employment in finance is mainly due to accelerated digitization. Banks and insurers are increasingly implementing automation, AI-based analytics and remote customer service. The importance of specialists is also growing cybersecurity. — Customers today expect personalized offers tailored to their situation and needs. It is changes like these that drive demand for new, specialized roles, he emphasizes.
IT technologies and services in Poland still plan to increase employment, but significantly lower than the leaders in the ranking (10 percentage points less than a year earlier). This is a signal of stabilization after several years of dynamic changes – companies are investing more selectively in digital competences and expectations towards candidates are increasing.
Where is it easiest to find a job in Poland?
Recruitment is planned in all six regions of the country, but with different intensity. Candidates from northern Poland have the best prospectsand – there the net employment forecast reaches +31%, and in the north-western region +30%. In the center of the country, the indicator is +25%, in the eastern voivodeships +21%, in the south-west +16%. The most cautious plans are declared by companies from the south of Poland, where the forecast is +7%.
— Despite rising costs, Poland remains an attractive operating location. We are still observing the transfer to our country of business processes that require high quality, specialization and operational stability. This generates demand for new competence profiles and opens up space for further development of the labor market, emphasizes Tomasz Walenczak.
The Polish labor market compared to the world
Against the background of the global employment forecast (+24%), Poland ranks slightly below average, but still in the group of countries with clearly positive recruitment moods. In the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East and Africa), the average rate is +20%.
Global employment prospects in individual sectors at the beginning of 2026
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ManpowerGroup
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— In Poland, as a result of greater wage pressure, a large change in minimum wages, as well as the low level of unemployment, which makes the labor market somewhat dependent on foreign workers, the trend of labor market development is different, more focused on local consumption – notes Agnieszka Adamiec.
Therefore, specialists have the greatest chance of finding a job – especially in the automotive industry, logistics and trade, as well as in finance and insurance related to new technologies. However, experts emphasize that experience alone may not be enough. In many companies, the pressure for efficiency is growing, and specific, measurable competencies and readiness to learn new technologies will be more and more important.
