This is how Poles are looking for work today. These options are growing in popularity
Browsing job offers on job sites remains the most frequently chosen way of looking for employment by Poles, but the popularity of other options is growing – according to the latest “Labor Market Barometer 2026” by Gi Group Holding.
As the 20th edition of the “Labor Market Barometer 2026” by Gi Group Holding shows, browsing job offers on job websites remains the most frequently chosen way of looking for employment by Poles. 55.4% do it. of us. The next places are taken by personal contacts and recommendations (33.9%), followed by “career” tabs on company websites and job search applications (31.1% each). Social media rounds out the top five (29.4%).
Yes, Poles are currently looking for a job. These options are becoming more and more popular
The creators of “Baromert”… point out that the role of personal contacts and recommendations, as well as independent browsing of offers on company websites, is growing. These options were indicated by nearly 5 percent. more respondents than a year ago.
Less important are methods of looking for employment, such as browsing advertisements in the press, radio, public transport (17.6%) and on notice boards (13.1%), participating in job fairs (12.1%), or using the support of employment offices (17.3%) and employment agencies (10.7%).
– Effective recruiting today starts with understanding how candidates actually look for a job. Some people regularly browse job portals, others look directly at company websites, and some use primarily recommendations and contacts. Therefore, there is no one universal way of conducting recruitment. Properly selected communication channels, transparent information and quick contact are becoming more and more important – comments Grzegorz Gojny, Operations Director of Gi Group.
From the latest “Labor Market Barometer 2026” we learn that job sites are the most important source of information about job offers for all age groups. People over 55 years old (70%), service workers (65%), and residents of the largest cities – over 500,000 people use them more often than others. inhabitants (63%).
How do companies search for employees?
We also examined how employers search for employees. And in this case, advertising portals win, indicated by 41.4 percent. enterprises. Companies also use the support of employment offices (30.2%), conduct internal recruitment (22%), take into account recommendations and recommendations (21.8%), and publish advertisements on their websites (21.6%). They are less likely to use social media, referrals, recruitment agencies or media advertisements.
– Although job portals, social media and applications are the basis of every recruitment today, technology and a variety of tools are not everything. An effective process requires looking through the candidate’s eyes – knowing his or her motivation and job search path. Only this approach guarantees success and will satisfy both the company and the new employee – says Ewa Michalska, Operations Director of Grafton Recruitment.
Recruitment methods clearly depend on the size of the organization and the specific nature of the industry. 39% of people use job portals. small, 43 percent medium-sized and 42 percent large enterprises. Smaller companies use employment offices more often than larger ones (36%, 28% and 26% respectively).
As the scale of operations increases, the importance of solutions such as internal recruitment increases (from 18% in small companies to 32% in large companies) or the support of recruitment agencies (from 14% to 23%).
The 20th edition of the “Labor Market Barometer 2026” was developed by Gi Group Holding experts on the basis of research conducted by the Market and Opinion Research Agency SW Research. The survey among employers was carried out using the CATI method (25/02–09/03/2026), and among employees using the CAWI method (23/02–03/03/2026).
