The labor market heading into 2026 looks more optimistic than many anticipated. Data from the Polish Economic Institute’s Monthly Business Climate Index (MIK) shows a clear tilt toward hiring – and that’s a signal worth paying attention to if you’re in tech recruitment or looking for your next role.

What the Numbers Actually Tell Us About Hiring Plans in 2026

By the end of February 2026, 11 percent of companies had already brought on new employees – and more than double that figure, 26 percent, declared plans to hire before the year is out. That contrast is striking. On the other side of the equation, only 6 percent of firms announced plans to reduce headcount, which means the ratio of companies expanding their workforce to those shrinking it sits at more than 4 to 1. These figures come from the MIK survey conducted by the Polish Economic Institute (PIE), a reliable barometer of business sentiment in Poland. For anyone involved in technical recruitment, this kind of data has direct practical implications – demand for skilled professionals isn’t cooling off, it’s building momentum. The gap between hiring intent and actual completed hires also tells an interesting story: companies have the appetite, but finding the right candidates is still the hard part.

Is the IT / Tech Job Market Growing in 2026?

The short answer is yes – at least directionally. Tech roles including software developers, QA engineers, and DevOps specialists remain among the most sought-after profiles across Central and Eastern Europe. When general business sentiment skews toward hiring, the IT sector tends to feel that effect early and sharply. Itentio, operating since 2018 out of Kraków, is positioned directly within this demand curve – connecting companies globally with technical talent sourced from a region that’s producing strong engineering talent at scale. The broader hiring trend confirmed by the MIK data aligns with what specialist recruiters working in tech have been observing on the ground: pipelines are busier, not quieter.

Hiring Intent Outpaces Layoffs. What This Means for the Talent Market

When 26 percent of businesses plan to hire against only 6 percent planning layoffs, competition for talent tightens. Candidates – especially skilled ones in technical fields – gain negotiating leverage. Time-to-hire becomes a critical metric because companies moving slowly lose candidates to faster-moving competitors. Recruitment agencies and internal HR teams both feel this pressure. The window between a candidate entering the market and being placed elsewhere can shrink considerably in a net-positive hiring environment. For companies without dedicated sourcing infrastructure, this is exactly the scenario where Itentio’s model of proactive talent sourcing from Central and Eastern European tech hubs delivers a concrete advantage – access to pre-vetted candidates before the wider market even sees them.

The MIK Survey Data Reflects a Net Positive Hiring Trend. Not a Structural Shift in Employment

The MIK survey, conducted by the Polish Economic Institute, shows that as of early 2026, hiring intent among Polish businesses significantly exceeds layoff plans – with 26 percent planning to add staff versus 6 percent planning reductions by year end. This data reflects current declared business intentions within the survey period and does not indicate a permanent structural change to employment patterns or guarantee that all stated hiring plans will be executed. The survey captures sentiment and forward-looking declarations, not confirmed hires. Its scope is limited to Polish enterprises participating in the MIK study and may not fully represent sector-specific dynamics such as IT recruitment or international labor markets. The finding is directionally meaningful for labor market analysis but should not be interpreted as a forecast or as evidence of economy-wide labor shortages or surpluses.

Ready to build your tech team faster in this positive hiring market?

If you’re planning or actively hiring software developers, QA engineers, DevOps specialists or other technical roles in 2026, contact Itentio directly via the form, drop us a message at [email protected] or book a quick 30-minute call here → Schedule a call

Our tech recruitment support in the Polish and CEE talent pool gives you access to pre-vetted candidates before they hit the open market – exactly when competition for talent is tightening.

Let’s turn those hiring plans into real hires.