Poland’s unemployment rate has climbed to its highest level since 2021, with new figures confirming a consistent increase in the first two months of the year.

Data from the Central Statistical Office published on Tuesday shows the unemployment rate reached 6.1 percent in February, up from 6 percent in January. This marks a clear reversal from the lows seen in 2024, when unemployment hovered around 5 percent for much of the year.

The increase is part of a sustained upward trend that began in late 2024 and accelerated through 2025. In November 2025, unemployment stood at 5.6 percent, rising to 5.7 percent in December before continuing upward into the new year. Over just two months, the rate has increased by 0.4 percentage points.

The number of registered unemployed rose to 954,900 in February, compared to 934,100 in January. This monthly increase of around 20,800 brings the total rise since December to roughly 67,000 people.

While the number of newly registered unemployed fell to 101,000 in February from 118,500 in January, the overall stock of unemployed continues to grow, indicating that exits from unemployment are not keeping pace with inflows.

Regional data highlights significant disparities in the labor market. Eastern regions continue to experience the highest unemployment rates, with Warmian-Masurian voivodeship recording 10.1 percent, the highest in the country. Podkarpackie follows at 9.6 percent, while Świętokrzyskie stands at 9.0 percent and Lubelskie at 8.6 percent.

By contrast, major economic centers and western regions report substantially lower unemployment. Wielkopolskie has the lowest rate at just 3.9 percent, while Mazowieckie, home to Warsaw, stands at 4.5 percent. Śląskie is also relatively low at 4.8 percent.

At the European level, Poland’s unemployment rate remains broadly in line with the continental average but sits just below several major economies. Germany recorded 6.3 percent, while France stood at 7.9 percent and Spain at 9.9 percent. Southern and southeastern European countries continue to report higher levels, including Finland at 10.9 percent and Bosnia and Herzegovina at 11.2 percent.

At the lower end of the scale, Denmark has the lowest unemployment level in the European Union at 2.6 percent.

Despite the recent increase, Poland’s labor market remains stronger than during the peak pandemic years, when unemployment exceeded 6.5 percent. The Ministry of Family, Labor, and Social Policy had previously forecast the February rate at 6.1 percent.