Polish employers are increasingly turning to temporary hiring. The highest demand is currently seen in logistics, warehousing, manufacturing, and e-commerce, and the number of foreign workers in the Polish labor market has already exceeded 1.29 million. Learn more about why Polish businesses are changing their hiring approach, which job openings are currently the most popular, and what salaries employees can expect in 2026

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In Poland, demand for temporary workers continues to grow. In April 2026 alone, the number of such job openings increased by approximately 10%, with logistics centers, warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and e-commerce companies leading the search for staff.

Polish businesses are increasingly shifting to flexible hiring models due to rising costs, labor shortages, and economic instability. At the same time, for foreigners, this means more job openings, faster employment, and a wider range of job options—even without knowledge of the Polish language.

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Why are Polish companies increasingly hiring temporary workers?

The Polish labor market has changed significantly in 2026. Whereas companies previously sought to build stable, long-term teams, businesses are now increasingly opting for flexible hiring models. In April 2026 alone, demand for temporary workers in Poland rose by approximately 10%.

The main reason is economic uncertainty. Polish companies are facing several challenges at once:

1. Rising personnel costs;

2. An increase in the minimum wage;

3. Unstable demand in trade and manufacturing;

4. High energy costs;

5. A more cautious approach to investments.

As of January 1, 2026, the minimum wage in Poland rose to 4,806 zlotys gross. This is approximately 49,600 UAH at the current exchange rate. For many employers, this means an additional burden on the payroll budget.

Against this backdrop, temporary employment has become a way for businesses to quickly adjust their workforce to market conditions. This is particularly important for companies where workloads are heavily dependent on seasonality or fluctuations in demand.

Another factor is the slowdown in the Polish economy in certain sectors. According to GUS data, in February 2026, the number of job openings at public employment centers fell by 67%, while the unemployment rate rose to 6.1%. At the same time, certain industries, on the contrary, continue to actively hire staff.

This is precisely why employers are increasingly moving away from long-term workforce planning and opting for more flexible employment models.

In our previous article, we discussed that new rules for calculating work experience are in effect in Poland.

Which sectors in Poland will have the most job openings in 2026?

The highest demand for temporary workers in Poland is currently seen in sectors where businesses need to adapt quickly to changes in demand and ensure continuous operations. First and foremost, these are logistics, warehousing, manufacturing, e-commerce, and the food industry. It is here that employers most often face labor shortages and high staff turnover.

Logistics and the Warehousing Sector

Logistics remains one of the main drivers of the Polish labor market. Large warehousing centers and delivery companies are constantly looking for new employees due to seasonal surges, the growth of online commerce, and staff shortages.

Most often, employers are looking for:

- Order pickers;

- Warehouse clerks;

- Packers;

- Forklift operators;

- Sorting center workers;

- Drivers and logistics staff.

In some logistics companies, salaries have already reached 14,000–18,000 PLN gross per month for freight forwarders and certain industry specialists.

Manufacturing and Food Industry

Polish manufacturing companies continue to actively hire workers even amid economic instability. The most vacancies are opening up at food processing plants, packaging facilities, light industry plants, and automotive manufacturing plants.

Particularly in demand:

- Production line operators;

- Quality control workers;

- Technical staff;

- Packers;

- Workers in the meat and food industries.

Many companies also offer housing, transportation to work, and attendance bonuses, as competition for workers among employers continues to grow.

E-commerce and Retail

The e-commerce sector in Poland continues to grow rapidly, and with it, the demand for workers in warehouses, fulfillment centers, and delivery services is rising. Staff shortages are particularly acute ahead of seasonal sales and holidays.

The sectors with the most job openings right now are:

- Online stores;

- Fulfillment centers;

- Delivery services;

- Large retail chains;

- Sorting centers.

Due to high workloads, employers are increasingly turning to temporary hiring to quickly increase staffing levels during peak periods.

In our previous article, we reported that Poland retains its status as the EU’s cheapest labor market.

What types of workers are most in demand in Poland right now?

Despite the economic slowdown in some sectors, the labor shortage in Poland remains a serious problem. This is particularly true for manual labor, logistics, manufacturing, and technical fields. That is why employers are actively seeking foreign workers and increasingly offering additional benefits: housing, transportation, bonuses, and flexible schedules.

Warehouse workers and order pickers

The warehouse sector is currently one of the largest employers in Poland. Due to the growth of e-commerce and international logistics, companies are constantly opening new positions.

The most commonly sought-after roles are:

- Order pickers;

- Packers;

- Sorting workers;

- Scanner operators;

- Forklift drivers.

In large logistics centers, employees can earn between 5,500 and 8,500 PLN gross per month, depending on the number of shifts, bonuses, and the region. The most vacancies are in Warsaw, Łódź, Wrocław, Poznań, and the areas surrounding major warehouse hubs.

Production workers

Polish factories continue to actively hire staff, even those without work experience. The highest demand is observed in the food, automotive, furniture, and packaging industries.

Employers are most often looking for:

- Production line operators;

- Quality control workers;

- Assemblers;

- Packers;

- Technical staff.

At many companies, employers are willing to train new employees on the job, so knowledge of Polish or work experience is often not a mandatory requirement.

Drivers and Logistics Staff

Poland remains one of Europe’s largest logistics hubs, so the demand for drivers and transportation staff remains consistently high. There is a particular shortage of:

- C+E category drivers;

- International carriers;

- Freight forwarders;

- Logistics coordinators.

In some companies, salaries for international truck drivers can exceed 10,000–14,000 PLN per month.

Seasonal workers and HoReCa

As the summer season approaches in Poland, demand is also growing for temporary workers in tourism, the hospitality industry, and agriculture.

Most often, employers are looking for:

- Cooks;

- Waitstaff;

- Housekeepers;

- Hotel staff;

- Seasonal workers for harvesting vegetables and fruits.

In tourist regions, job openings begin to appear en masse as early as May, with the peak hiring season typically falling in June and July.

By the way, we recently reported that Poland is raising minimum wages for foreign and local workers.

How have employee requirements and expectations changed?

In 2026, the Polish labor market is changing not only from the employers’ side but also from the employees’ side. While salary used to be the main factor, people are now increasingly paying attention to living conditions, job stability, work schedules, and the speed of processing paperwork. Due to the labor shortage, employers have to compete for workers not only with wages but also with additional benefits.

One of the main changes has been the increase in requirements for legal employment. Foreign workers are increasingly checking:

- Official employment status;

- Availability of health insurance;

- Living conditions;

- Overtime pay;

- Transportation to work;

- Actual number of working hours.

For many candidates, the speed of starting work has also become an important factor. Due to high demand, companies are trying to streamline the document processing and employee onboarding process as much as possible.

Expectations regarding work schedules have also changed significantly. More and more people prefer:

- Flexible schedules;

- Short-term contracts;

- The opportunity to work seasonally;

- Work that isn’t tied to a single employer for several years.

This is especially true for young workers and foreigners who view working in Poland as a temporary option or a way to earn money quickly.

Another trend is the growing competition among employment agencies. Due to staff shortages, companies are increasingly offering sign-on bonuses, attendance bonuses, and free housing. In some regions of Poland, employers even reimburse travel expenses or assist with the paperwork for legalizing residency.

Detailed information regarding the EU Blue Map in Poland — is available here.

Is it worth going to Poland for temporary work in 2026?

Demand for workers in Poland remains high even despite the economic slowdown in some sectors. For foreigners, this means a wide selection of job openings, quick employment, and the opportunity to find work even without experience or knowledge of the Polish language. There are currently a particularly large number of opportunities available in logistics, warehousing, manufacturing, and seasonal work.

One of the main advantages of temporary employment remains the speed of the onboarding process. In many cases, employers are ready to hire an employee within a few days and provide:

- Housing;

- Transportation to work;

- Attendance bonuses;

- Advances;

- Assistance with paperwork.

For many foreigners, temporary work also serves as a way to legally enter the Polish labor market, gain experience, and eventually transition to a more stable position or a long-term contract.

However, experts advise carefully reviewing the terms of employment before departure. First and foremost, you should pay attention to:

- An official employment contract;

- The hourly wage rate;

- The number of guaranteed hours;

- Living conditions;

- The availability of health insurance;

- The legality of the employment agency.

It is also important to note that competition for well-paid jobs in Poland’s major cities continues to grow. The highest salaries are traditionally offered in Warsaw, Wrocław, Poznań, and Kraków, though housing costs there are significantly higher.

Despite this, Poland remains one of the most accessible employment options for foreigners in Europe. A large number of job openings, relatively quick processing of documents, and stable demand for workers make the Polish labor market attractive even amid economic instability.

If you are planning to work abroad in 2026 and want to better understand the rules of employment, work permits, taxes, and basic employee rights, it is worth preparing for the move in advance. Visit World's practical working guide will help you navigate the current requirements, types of work permits, and steps to take upon arrival to avoid common mistakes and feel confident in your new life abroad.

We remind you! Krakow has been named the best city in Europe for digital nomads thanks to affordable prices, high safety standards, and fast internet. A new study covered dozens of popular destinations and revealed a clear trend favoring Central and Eastern Europe.

Products from Visit World for a comfortable trip:

Checklist for obtaining a visa and necessary documents in Poland;

Legal consultation on immigration to Poland;

Travel insurance for foreigners in Poland;

Medical insurance worldwide.

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