ManpowerGroup has published a report showing companies’ hiring forecasts for the second quarter of 2026. It shows that 4 in 10 employers plan to hire new employees, while 1 in 10 is considering reducing headcount. Nearly half of companies intend to maintain their current employment level. Job seekers can expect the most offers in construction and real estate, as well as trade and logistics, and also in eastern, northern, and southwestern Poland. As a company representative notes, the labor market is becoming more professionalized, and new offers will mainly go to candidates with key, highly valued competencies.

According to the “ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Barometer” report, which measures companies’ recruitment plans, 41% of Polish employers plan to acquire new employees in the coming quarter, 9% speak of reductions, 48% will keep employee numbers unchanged, and 2% do not know these plans. The seasonally adjusted net employment outlook is +31%.

– In companies’ responses, we can see that quarter over quarter, the share of organizations that want to increase employment has risen, while the share of those talking about reductions has fallen. Despite the difficult macroeconomic environment, enterprises more often see room for growth than for cuts. The largest group still consists of companies maintaining their current employment level and observing the market environment before making decisions – says Tomasz Walenczak, Managing Director of ManpowerGroup Poland. – Organizations not only want to maintain teams, but are actively investing in competencies that allow them to increase resilience, accelerate transformation, and achieve goals. What we are currently observing in the market reflects its maturity, and people are treated as a critical resource. Although current geopolitical uncertainty may cause greater caution in decision-making, the overall direction is encouraging, and companies have already become accustomed to operating in a complex environment – adds the head of ManpowerGroup Poland.

Sectors with the greatest appetite for new employees

The strongest willingness to hire new staff is reported by companies in construction and real estate (+45%), utilities and raw materials (+41%), and trade and logistics (+38%). Favorable conditions await candidates in finance and insurance (+30%) and industrial manufacturing (+27%). Less optimistic plans are held by companies in the information and communication sector (+18%) and professional, scientific, and technical services (+18%), while in the automotive industry the outlook is 0%.

– Spring traditionally brings an upturn in the labor market, especially in industries strongly dependent on weather conditions. We see this, among others, in construction, which is currently also in the peak phase of major investments, as well as in HoReCa or municipal services, where the second quarter has for years meant intensified activity. On the other hand, we see demand for top-class specialists; companies are hiring for quality, and this is the direction the recruitment market will follow. In the coming quarter, we can expect new job offers, but in the vast majority these will be proposals for candidates with specialist competencies, not mass recruitment. Employers are looking for quality, which is why analytical, technical, operational, and technological competencies are gaining importance. This is also confirmed by the intentions of companies in finance and insurance, professional services, healthcare, and technology and IT services – says Tomasz Walenczak.

Where are companies’ intentions the most optimistic?

In all six analyzed regions of Poland, companies want to seek new employees. The most new positions are planned by enterprises from eastern Poland (+42%), the north (+34%), and the southwest (+34%). The northwest forecasts +27%. The lowest, though recruitment will still be significant, is declared by employers from the south (+19%) and the center (+24%).

Growth, technology, and optimization – the drivers of the labor market

The most common reason for new recruitment is organizational growth and the resulting creation of new jobs (64%), expansion of company operations (38%), as well as technological development, which generates demand for new skills (22%). Fewer companies recruit because they are filling vacancies after employee departures (21%), want to maintain competitiveness (21%), or are starting temporary projects (20%). In turn, reductions are caused by process optimization and role consolidation (29%), reorganization (25%), and market changes that have reduced demand for certain functions (25%). Companies also mention declining demand for their services and products (24%) as well as automation (24%). Organizations that do not want to change employee numbers say that current staff is sufficient to achieve business goals (48%), and that the market is stable and they do not expect changes (28%). Behind the lack of decisions or companies’ uncertainty regarding recruitment plans is a talent shortage – companies would like to hire new staff but cannot find them (45%). The reasons also include fluctuations in demand for the company’s services and products affecting employment plans (27%), and economic uncertainty in the country (18%).

– Today, companies want to recruit primarily because of growth. This is a qualitative change that affects both the structure of demand for employees and the types of competencies employers are seeking. Growth, technology, and expansion are driven primarily by experts and managers. We can expect demand for operational and technical specialists, technology experts, and roles supporting business development. On the other hand, we have repetitive, low-specialization positions that are vulnerable to automation. At-risk groups in terms of potential reductions may include people performing simple manual work, as well as redundant roles after reorganizations and department mergers – summarizes the head of ManpowerGroup Poland.

SEE THE REPORT >>> ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Barometer