Poland’s Labour Force: Youth Inactivity Remains High While Overall Participation Slips

New data on Poland’s workforce shows that while overall participation levels remain steady, younger age groups continue to face difficulties entering the labour market.

Figures for early 2025 place the share of people aged 15 to 89 who are either working or seeking work at just over 58 percent, a slight decline from a year earlier. Within this broad group, men are far more likely to be active than women, with a gap of more than ten percentage points.

The divide is even sharper among the youngest cohorts. For those aged 15 to 24, nearly two-thirds are outside the labour force, a reflection of extended time spent in education, limited job opportunities, and in some cases care responsibilities. Among the wider group of 15- to 34-year-olds, fewer than six in ten hold jobs, leaving a substantial portion either inactive or still in school.

These trends are a concern for economists and policymakers. High inactivity among young people risks weakening Poland’s long-term labour supply, particularly as the population ages. Analysts point to the need for stronger pathways between school and work, more targeted training, and measures to help young women in particular balance employment with family responsibilities.

Despite the challenges, unemployment has not spiked. Rates remain low by European standards, suggesting that for those who are active in the labour market, job prospects are reasonably solid. The bigger question is how to encourage greater participation, especially among young people and women, to strengthen the resilience of Poland’s economy in the years ahead.