Unemployment rises again in Poland, with 911,000 registered at labor offices

Poland’s registered unemployment rate rose to 5.9% in August, up from 5.8% in July, according to estimates from the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Policy. The number of people registered at labor offices also increased, reaching 911,000.

The highest estimated unemployment rates remained concentrated in several counties. Szydłowiec County in Mazovia recorded 22.8%, followed by Brzozów County in Podkarpackie at 19% and Przysucha County in Mazovia at 18.1%. The lowest rates were recorded in Poznań County, at 1.4%, and in the cities of Poznań and Warsaw, both at 1.6%.

At the regional level, registered unemployment ranged from 3.8% in Wielkopolskie to 9.3% in Warmian-Masurian. The rate increased by 0.1 percentage point in five provinces and remained unchanged in 11 others.

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The main reasons given by unemployed people for ending employment contracts in August 2026 were the expiration of the contract period and termination by mutual agreement.

About 86,500 unemployed people registered with labor offices in August, 13.2% fewer than in July and 10.6% fewer than in August 2025. Officials said the most common reasons people gave for registering were obtaining health insurance, cited by 40.8% of those interviewed, and seeking help in finding work, cited by 39.4%.

Labor offices removed about 81,500 people from their registers during the month. The main reasons included taking a job, failing to contact the office at least once every 90 days, entering an active support program and requesting the loss of unemployed status. Employers reported 34,300 vacant jobs and activation positions in August, fewer than a month and a year earlier.

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The increase in year-on-year deregistrations was primarily the result of a higher number of people removed for failing to contact a labor office at least once every 90 days.