The document summarizes employability in Poland, including: - The legal working age is 16, though some restrictions apply until age 18. Retirement age is now 60 for women and 65 for men. - Youth unemployment rates are high, especially for those under 25 (13.8%) compared to over 24 (3.6%). Rates are also higher for ages 20-24 (18%). - Popular jobs for youth include assistant/secretary, administration, production worker, and sales. In-demand careers now include graphic designer, programmer, and business/financial analyst. - Support for youth employment includes public employment services, training institutions, apprenticeships, and validation of non-formal learning.

1. The employability in Poland
Team:
Natalia Majewska
Honorata Ławicka
Edyta Sokołowska
Age to enter the labor market:
Permissibility of work:
The Labor Codex allows for employment the persons over 16 years old on an employment
contract for the purpose of vocational preparation, while categorically prohibits the employment
of people below this age. 16 years old employees can work only part time (3/4) it is 6 hours per
day. Over 18 years employees can work full time (8 hours per day)
The performance of work or other gainful activities by a child up to the age of 16 is only allowed
for cultural, artistic, sporting or advertising entity and requires the prior acceptance of parents or
guardian, and permission of proper labor inspector.
18 years old – 8 hours per day
Age for retirement:
On 1 January 2013, the retirement reform came into force. The main concept was raising the
retirement age - ultimately to 67 years - for both men and women. It was to be done step by step.
For women, the retirement age of 67 years was to be reached in 2040, and for men in 2020.
From October 1, 2017, all these reforms were canceled. After this reform the retirement age
decreased and nowadays the retirement age is 60 for women, and 65 for men.
Youth unemployment rate (%, age, gender):
The unemploymentrate in February 2018 amounted to 6.8 percent, which was a decrease of 0.1
percentage point in relation to January
(https://businessinsider.com.pl/finanse/makroekonomia/stopa-bezrobocia-w-lutym-2018-dane-
ministerstwa-pracy/7ck17x3).
At the end of February 2018, the number of unemployed was 1 127.8 thousand. people.
Compared to the end of January this year there were 5.9 thousand of them less (0.5 percent).
Compared to February last year, the number of unemployed fell by 255,500 people (18.5 percent).
In April the unemployment rate was 6.6 %
Another data (https://countryeconomy.com/unemployment/poland) show that unemployment
rate in Poland in March 2018 was 4,4 %. The general unemployment ratefrom this data is:

2. Total Men Women
Unemployment Rate 4.4% 4.3% 4.5%
Unemployment less than 25 years 13.8% 13.4% 14.4%
Unemployed over 24 years 3.6% 3.5% 3.7%
Unemployment rate for people below 25 years old (https://tradingeconomics.com/poland/youth-
unemployment-rate?continent=africa):
Actual
2018
Previous
2017
Highest Lowest Dates
13.80 13.80 44.20 13.80 1997 - 2018
Unemployment rate by age (2017) (https://rynekpracy.pl/monitory/bezrobocie-osob-w-roznym-
wieku-w-i-kwartale-2017-roku):
Age
Unemployment rate
(w %)
15–24 15,3
25-34 5,6
35-44 4,0
45 and more 4,2
% of NEET
% NEET by age group (http://www.tstefaniuk.uph.edu.pl/zeszyty/archiwalne/108-2016_8.pdf):
Age
NEET
(%)
15–19 5,6
20 – 24 18

3. 25-29 15,1
The typical NEET population in Poland:
1. Working without agreement
2. Spending time on computer or TV-set
3. Secondary education
4. Single
5. Sportsmen
6. Engaged in cultural events
7. Engaged in religion societies
8. Travelers
9. Voluntaries
In Poland, people aged 20 - 24 are more disadvantaged (18%) Than aged 15-19
(5.6%)
Which jobs are more required by the companies
The most Required works in 2018 (https://www.elle.pl/artykul/zawody-w-2018-roku-najbardziej-
poszukiwane-zawody-przyszlosci):
Graphic Designer
UX designer
Architect
Programmer
Business and financial analyst
Research and development engineer
Automation specialist
Designer of 3D printer objects
Virtual reality designer
Free time animator
Actor
Film industry employee
biotechnologist
logistician
A specialist in development in the pharmaceutical industry
Nanny
Community manager
Mechatronics engineer
Project manager
ophthalmologist
Team leader

4. In which jobs youth work more(http://archiwum.nf.pl/24465-najpopularniejsze-zawody-
wsrod-mlodych/)
Assistant/secretary
Administration
Production worker
Salesman in a clothing store
Gastronomy
Inventory
Concert service
Hostess
Telephone consultant
Support at local and national level -> employment policy,internships, school
system in relation to internships/extracurriculum activities…)
1. public employment services;
2. the Voluntary Labour Corps which are a state unit specialized in activities for youths, in
particular the youth threatened by social exclusion and the unemployed at the age of up to
25 years;
3. employment agencies which are non-public organizational units which render job
placement services, recruitment services on behalf of foreign employers, vocational
guidance, HR consulting services, and agency services for temporary work;
4. training institutions which are public and non-public entities which provide non-school
education under separate legal provisions;
5. institutions of social dialogue on the labour market which are organizations and
institutions specialized in the matters of the labour market, including: organizations of
trade unions, organizations of employers and of the unemployed, and non-governmental
organizations which perform tasks related to promoting employment, mitigating the
effects of unemployment and professional activation;
6. institutions of local partnership which are groups of institutions performing ventures and
projects for the labour market on the contractual basis.
7. Cedefopis an EU agency supporting the development of a VET policy aimed at promoting
excellence and social inclusion, and to strengthen pan-European cooperation in the field of
vocational education and training.
https://eures.praca.gov.pl/en/looking-for-a-job-in-eu/you-are-an-eu-or-efta-citizen/living-and-
working-in-poland/working-in-poland/unemployment-and-employment-support-provided-by-
labour-offices
http://europass.org.pl/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Jak-zwi%C4%99ksza%C4%87-szanse-
zatrudnienia-poprzez-nauk%C4%99-Stycze%C5%84-2014.pdf
Recognition of non formal learning
CVT out-of-school (courses, seminars, workshops, guided self-study, on-the-job training,

5. apprenticeships) is provided by enterprises, NGOs, and different training and education centres,
but also schools. Qualifications attained in that way (including qualifications acquired in the
process of work) maybe validated by taking examinations, organised by state examination
commissions. There are also examination boards appointed by employers (e.g. chamber of crafts),
which certify equivalent qualifications providing for the title of journeyman or master craftsman in
a profession.
Best practices to transfer
1. The right agreement
2. Hire a senior employee
3. Hire a student
4. Hire an unemployed person
5. Hire a young parent