On 5–6 June 2025, chiefs of public employment services from across the European Union are meeting in Warsaw to discuss the challenges they are facing in their respective countries. The event, organised as part of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, was opened by Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk, the Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy, and Caroline Mancel, the Chair of the European Network of Public Employment Services. 

Europe is facing the complex and difficult global realities. We are probably all aware of how difficult this challenge is. Poland took over the presidency of the Council of the European Union at a time of uncertainty and anxiety. That is why the motto of our presidency is “security” – in all its dimensions, including security in the labour market. Public Employment Services enhance citizens’ sense of security through efforts aimed at employment, labour market activity, and improving the qualifications and skills of the unemployed and workers. 

– said the Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk at the official opening of the meeting.

Poland among the top EU countries with the lowest unemployment

The Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy stressed that despite dynamic demographic and technological changes, the situation on the labour market in Poland is good. Unemployment has been at a very low level for a long time – in April 2025, the unemployment rate in Poland calculated according to the definition adopted by Eurostat stood at 3.3%, second best in the European Union.

For several years now, we have been above the EU average in terms of the employment rate — both for men and for women. We have also achieved our national target set under the European Pillar of Social Rights for 2030 – the employment rate of 78.4% for the 20-64 age group as early as 2024.

The challenges faced by the European labour market. 

Topics at the 23rd meeting of the Board of the European Network of Public Employment Services include current employment policy challenges, including efforts towards an inclusive labour market, the role of artificial intelligence, and the development of digital competences. This is accompanied by, among other things, reforms of the European Pillar of Social Rights, the Union of Skills, digital transformation, and support systems for the unemployed across different countries. Participants at the meeting also had the opportunity to learn about the ongoing reform of the Polish labour market.

The agenda of our meeting demonstrates how complex and demanding the current tasks of public employment services are, going beyond traditional job placement to include challenges such as labour market crises caused by the pandemic, war, natural disasters, enhanced digital transition, and the need to ensure cybersecurity. All this requires employment centres to take immediate, often out-of-the-box measures. I am confident that our staff, as usual, will rise to these challenges 

– Minister Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk emphasised. 

At the end of the two-day event, Denmark, which will take over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union after Poland, will present its priorities.