Lubuskie in the Top Five Regions with the Lowest Unemployment Rate

Being close to Berlin, where employees earn at least 3 times more, has it’s advantages and disadvantages, one disadvantage is workers shortages, as we reported in 2016 , this can also be seen as an advantage because it leads to low unemployment.

On February 10, 2025, regional councilors reviewed the latest employment data for the Lubuskie region. The report was presented by Anna Urbaniak, Director of the Provincial Labour Office in Zielona Góra.

As of November 2024, the unemployment rate in Lubuskie stood at 4.4%, placing it among the regions with the lowest unemployment in Poland. The highest unemployment was recorded in Podkarpackie (8.4%) and Warmińsko-Mazurskie (8%), while the lowest was in Wielkopolskie (2.9%), Śląskie (3.5%), Mazowieckie (4%), and Małopolskie (4.1%).

Unemployment per region, between 2011 and 2024

Comparing unemployment between 2011 and 2024

Efforts to Reduce Unemployment

Over the past year, significant efforts have been made to support job seekers and employers. In 2024, Lubuskie allocated 88 million PLN for employment activation programs. As a result:

• Over 12,000 unemployed individuals received assistance.
• Nearly 1,000 people received grants to start their own businesses.
• 300 employers received funding to equip workplaces.
• More than 3,000 employees and employers benefited from training programs.

Labour Market Challenges

One of the key concerns highlighted by Urbaniak is an aging population, which poses challenges for the labour market. She emphasized the importance of foreign workers in sustaining the region’s economy. As of the second quarter of 2024, 35,620 foreigners were registered for social insurance in Lubuskie, with the majority being:

• Ukrainians (27,997)
• Belarusians (2,042)
• Georgians (1,157)
• Moldovans (479)
• Indians (486)

Barriers to Business Growth

Despite positive employment trends, businesses in Lubuskie face several challenges, including:

• Labour shortages, especially in skilled professions.
• High employment costs.
• Economic uncertainty.
• Heavy tax burdens.

Unemployment Trends in the Region

In October 2024, Poland’s overall unemployment rate was 4.9%, while Lubuskie had a slightly lower rate of 4.3%. The lowest unemployment rates were recorded in Świebodzin and Słubice, whereas higher unemployment was noted in Międzyrzecz, Wschowa, and Strzelce-Drezdenko counties.

With continued investments in workforce development and business support, Lubuskie remains one of Poland’s strongest regions in terms of employment stability.

Source: gov