Unemployment in Poland in 1918-2018
Unemployment in Poland in 1918-2018

Summary/Abstract: The article presents a synthetic analysis of unemployment in three periods of Polish history: the Second Polish Republic, the Polish People's Republic (PRL) and the third Polish Republic. In all these periods, unemployment was a consequence of historical conditions as well as economic and social changes. In the interwar period, the unemployment was a result of a traditional economic structure, the Great Depression and the post-war demographic boom. After the Second World War Poland became part of the Soviet bloc, and the official ideology declared full employment. In the Polish People's Republic the consequence of this policy was hidden unemployment, which proved a heavy burden for the economy. Official unemployment returned after 1989, as a result of economic and social changes. In all the three abovesaid time spans, women and young people were most significantly affected by the unemployment. This issue is still regarded as crucial, though thanks to government programmes and aid provided by the European Union, its effects appear to be less severe.

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