Poland

COUNTRY CONTEXT

Capital: Warsaw Geographical size: 312 679 km2

Population: 38 005 614 (2015) Official EU language(s): Polish Political system: parliamentary republic EU member country since: 1 May 2004 Currency: Polish Złoty PLN

Overview

Poland is a country in central Europe, bordered by Germany to the west, the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south,

Ukraine and Belarus to the east and to the north, Lithuania and the Russian

exclave of Kaliningrad. Poland has a long coast

on the Baltic Sea.

Social economy in Poland - development of the sector

Poland’s entrance into the European Union in May 2004 brought new opportunities for resolving the problems on the Polish labour market and improving the living standards of the population. The structural funding that was made available contributed to raising living standards not only in very tangible ways (ex. by improving and expanding communication, technology and administrative infrastructure), but also by investing in research and development of new systemic models and approaches to more effectively counteract social problems. 

Gross domestic product (GDP) is a monetary measure of the market value of all final goods and services produced in a period (quarterly or yearly). Nominal GDP estimates are commonly used

to determine the economic performance of a whole country or region, and to make international comparisons. Nominal GDP per capita does not, however, reflect differences in the cost of living and the inflation rates of the countries; therefore using a GDP PPP per capita basis is arguably more useful when comparing

differences in living standards between nations.

Working in Poland

Unemployment in Poland appeared after the fall of socialisism, although the economy previously had high levels of hidden unemployment. The unemployment rate then fell to 10% by the late 1990s and then increased again in the first few years of the 21st century, reaching a peak of 20% in 2002. It has since decreased, although unevenly. Since 2008 the unemployment rate in Poland has consistently been below European average. The rate fell below 8% in 2015, leading to the possibility of a labor deficit.

 Poland is the gateway between Western and Eastern Europe and is part of an evolving region with a growing economy.

To improve your chances of getting a good job in Poland, try to gain extra qualifications and work experience. Knowledge and practical skills in a certain sector will help and foreign language and IT skills are popular with employers.

Unemployment in Poland

Ernst & Young report

According to an Ernst & Young report, Poland ranks 7th in the world in terms of investment attractiveness. However, Ernst & Young's 2010 European attractiveness survey reported that Poland saw a 52% decrease in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) job creation and a 42% decrease in number of FDI projects since 2008. According to the OECD (www.oecd.org) report, in 2004 Poles were one of the hardest working nations in Europe. Yet, the ability to establish and conduct business easily has been cause for economic hardship.

Famous Polish People

Adam Mickiewicz Henryk Sienkiewicz Fryderyk Chopin Mikołaj Kopernik Maria Curie-SkłodowskaAndrzej Gołota Adam Małysz Kazimierz Deyna Zbigniew Boniek Robert Lewandowski

B Y PAT R Y K B A N A K I E W I C Z , J A KU B C I O Ł A KF R O M G I M N A Z J U M I N P I E K O S Z O W, P O L A N D

S O U R C E H T T P S : / / E N. W I K I P E D I A . O R G / W I K I / E C O N O M Y _ O F _ P O L A

N D # L A B O U R _ M A R K E T _ A N D _ WA G E S

THE END