The number of temporary employees in Poland during the first quarter of 2019 decreased by 15% compared to the same period of the previous year, according to Polskie Forum HR, the Polish Human Resources Forum.

Polskie Forum measured this figure by using data which found that agencies associated in the Polish Forum in the first quarter employed over 90,000 temporary employees. Polskie Forum then estimated that in Poland this number amounted to approximately 300,000 people.

Anna Wicha, President of the Polish Forum, commented, “Given the situation on the labour market and the shortage of candidates in many industries and regions of Poland, the fall in the number of temporary employees is not a surprise. Employers are eagerly taking over our employees and employing them permanently.”

Wojciech Ratajczyk, vice president of temporary work at the Polish HR Forum highlighted data which showed that the temporary employment landscape in Poland is partially sustained by workers from Ukraine, which Polskie Forum says make up 32% of temporary workers in the country.

“Therefore, it is extremely important to improve the procedure that legalises the work of foreigners in our country,” Ratajczyk said.

Polskie Forum also published data on the value of the temporary jobs market in the first quarter of 2019 with the value falling by 6% compared to the same period of the previous year, and dropping by 11% when compared to the previous quarter. Polskie Forum member companies generated a turnover of PLN 946 million (€220.0 million).

During the period, Polskie Forum estimated the value of the temporary job market in Poland in Q1 at PLN 1.6 billion (€372.2 million).