Krakow's labor market shocked. A wave of collective layoffs and a new list of surplus professions
Compared to provincial cities, Krakow stands out with a greater number of deficit and surplus professions – according to the analysis of the municipal employment office, which predicts further staff shortages and a surplus of professions in which it is difficult to find a job.
The Municipal Labor Office in Krakow has published the latest edition of the “Kraków Labor Market Observatory” report, summarizing the situation on the local labor market, especially in the fourth quarter of 2025.
As we read in the GUP report, in 2026 48 deficit professions are expected in Krakow, while in voivodeship cities there are 31. The average list for voivodeship cities does not include any surplus profession, while in Krakow 7 such professions are forecast, i.e. 3 more than last year.
Due to the reorganization of companies and the large number of graduates, the following people must take into account the following: specialists in human resources management and recruitment, specialists in humanities, IT technicians, economic technicians, administrative and office workers.
It will also be difficult for insurance agents and florists to find work. The demand for agents is decreasing due to the popularization of remote services. The low demand for florists is the result of the popularization of flower shops and chain flower shops.
In the report We are also talking about professions that are missing in Krakow due to the specificity of this city. These include: train drivers, purchasers and suppliers, couriers and postmen, passenger car drivers, car mechanics, electrical and energy engineers, metal structure fitters, cooks and kitchen help, educators in educational and care facilities, educational assistants, pavers, cleaning staff, physical security workers, manual workers in production and simple work.
The authors of the report justify the gaps in these professions by: a strong tourism and catering industry, the development of e-commerce and passenger transport, and the growing importance of the mechanical and metallurgical industries.
The list of deficits appearing on average in provincial cities includes two professions that are forecast to be in balance in Krakow in 2026, i.e. psychologists and psychotherapists and locksmiths.
Balancing the demand and supply of work among psychologists ensures a constant supply of numerous graduates. Balance in the locksmith profession results from technological changes, which increasingly force this profession to be combined with welder qualifications.
According to the GUP report, in 2026 there will be more staff shortages in the capital of Małopolska than in 2025. According to forecasts, there will be too few candidates in 48 professions, 14 more than last year.
The forecasted shortage professions, without taking into account the specificity of the region, include professions related to the construction industry, e.g. concrete workers, carpenters, roofers, bricklayers and plasterers.
The education industry will continue to suffer from staff shortages – among others, people will be looking for: pedagogues and supporting teachers, teachers of practical vocational training, general subjects and foreign languages.
The transport industry lacks, among others: bus and truck drivers, warehouse workers. And the mechanical and automotive industry is looking for, among others: body workers and car painters.
The care and medical industry is struggling with a shortage of: doctors, caregivers for the elderly or disabled, nurses and midwives, and paramedics.
There is a shortage of independent accountants in the financial and legal industry due to the lack of required qualifications.
The report also included data on the general situation on the labor market in Krakow.
According to the publication, at the end of December 2025, the number of unemployed people in Krakow amounted to over 13,000. and it was an increase of over 23%. compared to the year before.
In 2025, almost 4.5 thousand employees were reported for group layoffs, i.e. by over 60%. than in 2024.
In Monday's press release, GUP assessed that “the end of 2025 brought an image of a stable and active labor market in Krakow.” (PAP)
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