PIE: duration of working life in Poland
The duration of working life in Poland increased by 3.3 years (2015-2025). Check how we compare to the EU, how many years we live in good health, and what influences professional activity.
The Labor Market and the Length of Working Life in Poland
Time in the labor market: A person who turned 15 in 2025 will spend an average of 36 years in the labor market (as employed or unemployed).
Position in the EU: Poland ranks 7th lowest in the European Union in this trend (the EU average is 37.5 years, and in 7 countries this indicator exceeds 40 years).
Positive trend: In the years 2015–2025, the expected duration of professional activity in Poland increased by 3.3 years - this is a faster growth rate than the EU average (+2.7 years).
Health and Work
Healthy life years: A person born in Poland in 2024 will live in good health for an average of 64.7 years (an increase of 2.4 years since 2015, with an increase of as much as 6 years for women). This indicator is close to the EU average (65.2 years).
No direct correlation: A long life in good health does not automatically translate into working longer (e.g., in Southern countries people live in good health for a long time but work for a short period, whereas in Germany or the Netherlands people work for over 40 years despite lower health indicators).
Key Conclusion and Challenges
Extending professional activity is crucial in the face of an aging population. To achieve this, institutional changes are needed, including more flexible forms of employment for seniors.
Example: In Austria, 32% of people aged 55–64 work part-time, while in Poland this figure is just 8% - despite a similar retirement age, Austria thereby achieves a 3-year longer duration of professional activity.
