Has the Recruiter-led Market Returned to Poland? Most Employees Seem to Think So
More than half of adult Poles believe that employers now hold the upper hand in recruitment, with only a small fraction feeling that candidates are in a stronger position.
According to a survey conducted by the job portal Pracuj.pl in June, involving 1,500 Polish adults, 68% of job seekers feel like just another CV in a pile. The majority—54%—are convinced that employers currently have the advantage. Only 4% of respondents believe that job seekers have the upper hand, while the remaining 42% view the relationship as balanced. On the other hand, many employers are expressing frustration over being overwhelmed with hundreds more applications than in the past, many of which include AI-generated CVs and cover letters. For example, a survey by the job site Indeed found that around 30% of employers reported seeing a rise in AI-generated resumes and cover letters over the past year. Additionally, a study from LinkedIn indicated that 60% of hiring managers are concerned about the authenticity of applications due to the prevalence of AI tools.
What Do Candidates Want from the Hiring Process?
Experts at Pracuj.pl point out that feedback plays a significant role in shaping candidate perceptions. A large majority—82%—would like to know their prospects in a recruitment process as early as possible. And it’s not just positive updates they seek—77% of respondents said that even a rejection helps them move forward and apply elsewhere.
This sense of disillusionment is also fuelled by the less buoyant post-pandemic job market. Many industries, particularly IT, have seen fewer job openings over the last two years, and 2023 has been marked by widely publicised mass layoffs.
An Unusual August: Will Job Market Worsen in September?
Economists were also alarmed by a surprising rise in unemployment in August—a month typically associated with seasonal job growth. This August, the number of registered unemployed reached 772,300—6,900 more than at the end of July, though still 10,200 fewer than the previous year.
Piotr Soroczyński, chief economist at the Polish Chamber of Commerce, attributes this to recent mass layoffs and the July increase in the minimum wage, which may have led to job cuts, particularly in smaller towns. “Unfortunately, the job market could worsen again in September,” warns Soroczyński.
