According to a report by instant employment agency Tikrow, almost three-quarters of companies in Poland are experiencing a shortage of serial workers, performing simple and repetitive tasks (such as manual workers, cashiers, packers, or warehouse workers). 47 % of companies are concerned that this will delay order fulfilment, and 40 % find it more difficult to attract new customers.

According to the report ‘The market for serial workers. The outlook for retail, manufacturing, and logistics’, 74 % of companies face a shortage of workers performing non-specialised tasks. They are mainly production workers, warehousemen, packers, or shop assistants. Companies employing between 250 and 500 people are most affected (80 % of indications). Considering the sectors, the most frequent shortage affects trade (84 %), slightly less logistics and warehousing (76 %) and production (73 %).

Companies have the most vacancies in production (54 %), warehouse operation (42 %), inventory or order packing (34 % of indications each) and cash register work (32 %). Entrepreneurs indicate that staff shortages in their companies are mainly caused by sudden departures of employees (56 %), unexpected absences of team members (54 %) and illness (46 %). 

“Shortages in the lowest positions can adversely affect the efficient organisation of the supply chain of many companies. One in two businesses indicated in the Tikrow survey that vacancies are linked to the inability to efficiently replace that part of the workforce that is on sick leave. As many as 47 % of companies risk delays in order fulfilment and 4 out of 10 organisations may not be able to attract new customers due to a shortage of row workers.

Arkadiusz Slomczynski