HR services market Q2 2026

Stable Growth of the HR Industry in the Second Quarter of 2026: Service Value Reaches 1.86 Billion PLN

The Polish HR Forum presents the HR services market results for the second quarter of 2026 (2Q2026). Total turnover of member companies increased by 3% year-on-year, reaching 1,858 million PLN. Temporary work maintains its market leadership position with a 62.4% share, with as many as 81% of contracts with temporary workers being employment contracts.

Slight but Stable Market Growth

In the second quarter of 2026, the Polish HR services market showed a stable growth rate. Total turnover of entities affiliated with the Polish HR Forum (PFHR) shaped at the level of 1,858 million PLN, which represents a 3% increase compared to the corresponding period of the previous year. The data presented in the report comes from 32 capital groups (including a total of 73 companies), representing the most important employment agencies and personal consulting companies in Poland

The market structure remains established: the core activity consists of temporary work (62.4% market share; 1,159 million PLN) and outsourcing (25.1%; 467 million PLN). The remaining part of the market is made up of: posting of workers (4.6%), recruitment services (4.4%), RPO - Recruitment Process Outsourcing (1.5%), other services (1.9%), and career management (0.1%).

- The Polish HR services market in the second quarter of 2026 shows signs of a mature and stable ecosystem. Although the main operational pillar of enterprises remains the flexibility provided by temporary work, we observe a steady and consistent growth in areas requiring specialized knowledge. Businesses in Poland are learning to effectively respond to economic challenges by optimizing their employment structure, supported by specialized agencies – comments Ewelina Glińska-Kołodziej, Member of the Board of the Polish HR Forum.

Temporary Work: High Percentage of Full-Time Jobs and Market Maturity

In absolute terms, the temporary work segment reached 1,159 million PLN in turnover (+4% y/y). It is estimated that the value of the entire temporary work market in Poland (including non-affiliated companies) reached 2.0 billion PLN in 2Q2026. In agencies belonging to PFHR, 82 thousand people worked in the second quarter (+1% y/y), which translates to an estimated population of 272 thousand temporary workers nationwide. Time worked in terms of full-time equivalents amounted to 40.0 thousand FTEs (-2% y/y, +1% q/q).

- Particular attention should be paid to the fact that companies affiliated with the Polish HR Forum maintain the highest market standards of employment - as many as 81% of contracts with temporary workers are employment contracts. This gives workers full social protection and stability, and guarantees employers commitment and high quality of work, mainly in the manufacturing sector (61%) and the service sector (38%) – adds Glińska-Kołodziej.

Polish enterprises show a greater willingness to carry out recruitment projects, which may indicate a gradual improvement in sentiment and greater readiness to invest in key competencies.

One of the most important and optimistic conclusions from the Polish HR Forum report for the second quarter of 2026 is a clear revival in the segment of permanent recruitment carried out for Polish employers. The turnover of member companies in this area reached 75 million PLN. This represents a 7% increase compared to the second quarter of 2025 and a clear acceleration compared to the first quarter of 2026 - an increase of 6% q/q. The dynamic quarterly growth indicates that after a conservative start to the year, Polish enterprises unlocked recruitment projects and moved from a job freezing policy to active team expansion.

- The jump in the value of domestic recruitment is a clear signal that Polish business is regaining confidence in economic stability. Employers realize that under conditions of acute competency shortages, rapid acquisition of qualified managers and specialists is the key to maintaining a competitive advantage. We are no longer dealing only with filling vacancies, but with creating new positions in response to technological challenges – notes Szymon Rudnicki, Vice President of the Polish HR Forum.

- The increase in the value of permanent recruitment is a signal that employers are investing with greater confidence in acquiring key competencies. Under conditions of ongoing staff shortages, rapid acquisition of qualified specialists and managers remains one of the most important factors in building a competitive advantage. We observe a growing interest in competencies supporting organizational development, digitization of processes, and increasing business efficiency. As a result, recruitment is increasingly becoming an element of strategic company development, rather than solely a response to current staffing needs – notes Szymon Rudnicki, Vice President of the Polish HR Forum.

Recruitment for foreign employers: The value of this segment jumped by as much as 21% y/y (to 7 million PLN), which proves the high appreciation for Polish talents in the international market and the high effectiveness of Polish agencies in carrying out cross-border HR projects.

RPO and Outsourcing Also on the Plus Side

Turnover from comprehensive recruitment process outsourcing amounted to 29 million PLN (+5% y/y, +3% q/q). The RPO (Recruitment Process Outsourcing) model, combined with traditional permanent recruitment, gives Polish enterprises enormous flexibility. Instead of building extensive internal recruitment departments, organizations prefer to cooperate with professional business partners who can flexibly scale resources according to the current recruitment needs of the company.

At the same time, the value of the outsourcing segment (outsourcing services and cooperation models like IT contracting) in the second quarter of 2026 amounted to 467 million PLN, showing a stable growth dynamic of +6% y/y and +1% on a quarterly basis. Outsourcing currently accounts for 25.1% of the total turnover of Polish HR Forum member companies.

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