For years, there has been a belief in technology and business circles that hard skills are the only safe currency in the labour market. However, the latest ManpowerGroup data suggests a significant correction to this thesis. The Polish labour market, traditionally associated with a strong emphasis on specialisation, is undergoing a transformation towards a model in which flexibility and development potential become more important than the sum of current technical skills.
The analysis shows that for 39% of Polish employers the key selection criterion is now readiness to learn. This is a signal that companies have stopped looking for employees who are ‘ready for now’ and have started investing in people capable of adapting in conditions of permanent change. Professionalism and work ethic, indicated by 36% of respondents, remain the foundation, but it is the set of soft competencies – communication and teamwork – that really closes the recruitment processes.
IT: Critical thinking instead of knowing the code
Of particular interest is the IT sector, which breaks out of the general pattern. While flexibility dominates the overall picture, critical thinking and problem-solving (42%) takes the lead in technology. This pragmatic approach stems from the specific nature of the industry, where technology is merely a tool and the real value is the ability to break down complex processes into their essentials.
It is worth noting that Polish employers attribute more importance to digital competencies (25%) than their global counterparts (16%). This disparity may indicate an ongoing intensive catch-up in Poland to digitise business processes, while Western markets have already shifted their focus to relationship management and inclusivity.
The end of the “top specialist”
Marta Szymańska of Manpower points to a phenomenon that redefines team-building strategy. With two similar technical profiles, employment is almost always determined by cultural fit and the ability to cooperate. Companies are increasingly accepting deficiencies in a candidate’s subject-matter knowledge, as long as he or she demonstrates high proficiency in acquiring new competencies.
About the survey: The ManpowerGroup survey was conducted between 1 and 31 October 2025 on 502 companies in Poland and 39,063 globally.
