Unemployment up as companies downsize

27th March 2009

Unemployment figures increased last month compared to January and are likely to rise further as layoffs continue and Poles return home from abroad as a result of the global downturn.

The Labour Ministry says unemployment for January stood at 10.9 percent as opposed to 10.5 percent in February. Sources close to PM Donald Tusk believe the trend is set to persist over the next two years.

A group of advisors to the prime minister estimate that the jobless rate will rise to 14.5 percent in the second half of 2010 and will remain at that figure for at least 12 months.

Michal Boni who heads the advisory group told TVN24, “[Our estimates] are on the pessimistic side, but this is a potential d ...