Roundtable Poland: Challenges on the Polish HR market; how do you deal with them?

In recent years, Polish wages have grown by an average of 5 to 6%, in August 2018 the unemployment rate reached a record level of 5.8%. How do you successfully look for qualified employees in this situation? How do you keep your employees, what employee retention programs are available on the market? These and similar questions will be answered by local experts.

According to the most actual available data Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) of Swiss companies in Poland amount to CHF 5.8 billion. Switzerland is ranked second after USA among the economies outside of the European Union concerning the volume of the FDI located in Poland.

Swiss investors employ almost 45’000 employees in their companies in Poland. They mention high qualifications, competence of the employees, interdiscipinarity, creativity as well as high level of education as the most important advantages of the Polish economy.

Since 25 years the Polish economy has been growing substantially, at the pace that was faster than in the Western European countries. The average dynamics of the GDP per capita reached 6% (CAGR).

Strong economic development in recent years has had also an impact on the situation on the HR market in Poland. Since 2016 a gradual increase in the real remuneration in the industry can be observed. The real remunerations have been rising on the average level of 5–6% during last months.

In addition, the level of registered unemployment has been gradually falling in last years. While in 2013 and 2014 it reached the level of 13-14%, in August 2018 it amounted to 5.8%.

The Polish HR market has shifted from the employer’s to employees market. The main challenges that has to be faced by employers are not only how to find a good employee but also how to retain the best ones.

During the roundtable you will have the chance to exchange with other Swiss investors active in Poland. In addition, the Head of Swiss Business Hub Poland - Benjamin Schwägli, Director of the Polish-Swiss Chamber of Commerce - Ulrich Schwendimann and our Trade Advisor at Swiss Business Hub Poland - Renata Puszkiel will be present for your questions.

Focus topics:

- Actual situation on the HR market in Poland

- Main challenges

- Successful HR strategies for finding and retaining best employees

- Actual HR practices of other Swiss companies