The SAFE program includes almost PLN 200 billion of low-interest loans that are intended to support the Polish arms industry and increase its production and defense potential. This money may also be important for the Polish labor market. We asked experts what could change in this area thanks to the allocated funds.
Funds from the EU program SAFE (Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency) in the amount of nearly PLN 200 billion, they can undoubtedly be of great importance not only for increasing Polish security, but also for the economy, and therefore also for the labor market.
A chance to develop not only the defense industry
According to Magda Dąbrowska, president of the Progres Group, the SAFE program will be a strong growth impulse for the entire defense industry ecosystem in Poland.
– Today, in the European Union countries, the defense industry provides direct employment to over a million people, and several million more jobs exist in the environment of this sector. among others in companies cooperating and supplying components or services – says Magda Dąbrowska to Bankier.pl. – In Poland, we are talking about tens of thousands of employees directly employed in the industry, i.e. approximately 50,000. people. This number even doubles when we also take into account those working in the supply chain and sectors related to the defense industry. This environment covers a very wide spectrum of professions – from engineers and technicians, through project managers and logistics specialists, to cybersecurity and finance experts.
The demand will increase not only for top specialists
In her opinion, industries such as IT, industrial electronics and automation will become a natural base for defense projects.
– In practice, this will mean a significant increase in competition for technical specialists, especially those with experience in technologically advanced projects. Importantly, the demand will not only apply to highly specialized positions. The demand for technicians, production operators, quality controllers and project planning and management specialists will also increase. We can therefore expect a broad, multi-level increase in employment, says the president of the Progres Group. – Additionally, projects implemented under SAFE will be long-term, which means relatively stable employment, not short-term recruitment increases. From an HR perspective, this is an important factor – companies will invest in long-term competence building, training programs and talent development, and not only in quickly filling staff shortages.
Not only the defense industry will benefit
Also, according to Mirosław Białobrzewski, president of Golden Serwis, the scale of financing under the SAFE program allows us to assume that it will be a significant development impulse for the Polish labor market.
– First of all, we expect a clear increase in demand for employees in the defense industry sector itself, which will translate into the need for intensive recruitment for both production and highly specialized engineering positions – says Mirosław Białobrzewski to Bankier.pl. – Related industries may also feel a strong impact. NThese positions may be created both in large defense companies producing military equipment and in smaller technology companies that are subcontractors in supply chains.. Companies dealing with systems integration, maintenance of military equipment and logistics support for large defense contracts will also benefit.
A specific impulse for the labor market
Similarly, Krzysztof Inglot, a labor market expert from Personnel Service, believes that the SAFE program is not only a security umbrella, but a very specific demand impulse for the labor market, especially in the defense industry and the entire supply chain.
– If a lot of money is invested in purchases and production, there is a growing demand not only for defense engineers, but also for electronics, automation, IT, cybersecurity, logistics, quality control, welders, CNC operators and maintenance specialists. – says Krzysztof Inglot to Bankier.pl. – As projects are launched, the number of jobs may actually increase. Some of them will be built directly by equipment and ammunition manufacturers, and a very large part by sub-suppliers: companies providing components, software, communications, transport, storage, service, tests and certification. I would expect the greatest number of new recruitments in companies from the defense and defense-related sectors and in those that already serve heavy industry and advanced production, because they will be the quickest to enter into new contracts.
Risk of staff transfers
According to Krzysztof Inglot, there is also the other side of the coin: the risk of staff transfers.
– If the arms sector starts paying a premium for competences, it may recruit people from construction, automotive, machinery, logistics and even some technical services. In Poland, given the demographics and tight labor market, this is a realistic scenario – says the Personnel Service expert. – Therefore, three things will be key: quick retraining programs, investments in automation and using the resources we have, such as economically inactive people or recruiting workers from abroad. SAFE can therefore increase employment and innovation, but at the same time increase wage pressure and sharpen the fight for specialists.
Wage pressure and the need to change strategy
Also according to Magda Dąbrowskathere is a real risk of staff shortages in other industries as a result of workers being transferred to the arms sectorespecially in the case of professions that are already in short supply – such as engineers, programmers or automation specialists.
– If the defense sector starts to offer more competitive salaries and project stability, some talents may migrate from industries such as automotive, telecommunications or IT – says a representative of the Progres Group. – In the short term, this may deepen competence gaps in other sectors, especially in regions with a strong concentration of the technology industry. Simultaneously this could create wage pressure and force non-defense companies to revise their compensation strategies and retention programs. On the other hand, in the long term, increased investments may also stimulate the education system and vocational training to adapt education programs, which will partially eliminate competency gaps. SAFE can therefore become both a challenge and a modernization impulse for the entire labor market – adds Magda Dąbrowska.
– In practice, the effect of the SAFE program may spread more widely to the entire modern technology sector in Poland, and therefore the program has the potential to become a key factor shaping the employment structure in Poland in the coming years – sums up the Golden Serwis expert.
