Pandemia COVID‑19 a zakładanie działalności gospodarczej ze wsparciem powiatowych urzędów pracy w miastach na prawach powiatu
The COVID‑19 pandemic and starting a business with the support of Poviat Labor Offices in cities with poviat rights

Summary/Abstract: Since the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in 2019, the world has been functioning in a different reality. In the initial phase of the pandemic, the activities of many public institutions, shopping centres, and service outlets were limited to the necessary minimum. However, with the passage of time and the accumulation of knowledge about the new virus, they were gradually restored to “relatively” pre-pandemic functions and business conditions. Unfortunately, the period of enforced lockdowns has left its mark, e.g., on the financial results of enterprises, on the development levels of many countries’ economies, and on the number of people who lost their jobs and often faced new life challenges, which includes considering the launch of their own businesses. Often, such initiatives required external financial support from dedicated business environment institutions, including Poviat Labour Offices (PLO), due to their activity supporting the unemployed, those seeking employment, and those in need of support in development and entrepreneurial initiatives. Purpose of the article: (1) To explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the number of beneficiaries benefiting from the co-financing that can be obtained from the PLO for starting a business, and (2) to compile a list of the number of beneficiaries (using the above-mentioned subsidised assistance) alongside the schedule of legal regulations regarding COVID-19, which were introduced in 2020–2021. The research covered 66 Poviat Labor Offices, which have their seats in cities with poviat rights, over a period spanning the years 2018–2021. The following methodologies were used: (1) a review of the literature on the subject, relating to the characteristics of the surveyed institutions along with the scope of their legally established activities, the concept of a city with poviat rights, and legal regulations introduced in response to the pandemic situation in Poland; and (2) descriptive research in the scope of selected statistical data on the examined cities, reports, and studies made available on the websites of individual offices. The conducted research led to the conclusion that the year 2020, among the years covered by the research observation, was characterised by the largest decrease in the number of beneficiaries who initiated business activities with the help of funds obtained from the District Labour Office. The negative impact of legal “COVID-related” regulations, which could have affected the number of beneficiaries, has not been clearly evidenced from co-financing for starting a business.

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