Growth in exports and imports slowed in March compared to February, but the slowdown was more moderate than projected.

Jobs on the rise, the number of unemployed decreasing.
The situation on the labour market is still changing fast. At the end of April 2008 the registered unemployment rate fell to 10.5%. The decrease in unemployment is attributable to fast job creation in Poland. In April 2008 the number of people employed in the commercial sector was by 5.6% higher than in April 2007; in February 2008 it was higher by 5.9% and in March by 5.8%. Wages are growing fast. In April 2008 they were higher by 12.6% than a year before.


Central Statistical Office (GUS): Growth in average employment in the commercial sector was still high in April 2008 (5.6% year on year), with the highest increases recorded in the real estate and business services sector and construction. The registered unemployment rate decreased to 10.5%, the lowest level since the end of 1998. Preliminary results of the labour force survey for the 1st quarter also show that trends on the labour market are still favourable: the number of employed rose year on year, the employment rate increased as did the economic activity rate, and the unemployment rate fell to 8.1%. The purchasing power of average gross monthly wages in the commercial sector was higher in April by 8.5% year on year, compared to a rise of 6.1% last year. The acceleration in real wages was associated with a high growth rate in nominal wages. Higher than average wage increased were recorded in mining, construction and the real estate and business services sector. As a result of the indexation of old-age and disability pensions in March, April was a second consecutive month in which gross real pensions were higher than a year before. (“Information on the Country’s Socio-Economic Situation, GUS, May 27, 2008”; www.stat.gov.pl)

Wages on the rise.

Central Statistical Office (GUS): In April the purchasing power of average gross monthly wages in the commercial sector was by 8.5% higher than in April 2007. Last year the increase was 6.1%. In the year to April gross real wages rose by 7.7% year on year versus 6.0% in January-April 2007. (“Information on the Country’s Socio-Economic Situation, GUS, May 27, 2008”; www.stat.gov.pl)


Centre for Social and Economic Research (CASE) on the situation on the labour market

CASE: The high economic growth was reflected in a further fast increase in jobs and a fall in unemployment. (...) There were already four EU countries with higher unemployment than Poland. We project that the registered unemployment rate will fall to 9.2% at the end of the 2nd quarter, and 9.1% at the end of 2008 and that the BAEL [labour force survey] unemployment rate will range from 6.5% to 7%. (CASE report, May 2008, “Trends. Analyses. Forecasts”; www.case.gov.pl)