Over 860,000 retirees in Poland are currently employed or have re-entered the workforce, doubling the number from nine years ago, according to ZUS data.
Rising Employment Among Pensioners
A record number of individuals receiving pensions are still actively working or have returned to employment. Paweł Jaroszek, Deputy President of ZUS (Social Insurance Institution), reported that over 860,000 people of pension age are currently employed, a figure twice as high as it was nine years ago.
Each additional year of work increases a pension by approximately 8-10 percent, incentivizing continued employment among retirees.
Financial Health of the Social Insurance Fund
Jaroszek, speaking at the 18th European Economic Congress in Katowice, stated that the Social Insurance Fund (FUS) is in a “relatively good, or even very good” financial condition for several years.
The fund’s coverage ratio – the proportion of expenditures covered by contributions – has remained above 80 percent, a historically strong result for Poland and comparable to international standards. While most pension systems globally are in deficit, Poland’s deficit is considered manageable.
The ‘Silver Economy’ in Poland
Jaroszek acknowledged the emergence of a “silver economy” in Poland, noting that ZUS currently supports over 6 million pensioners.
The statutory retirement age is no longer a definitive barrier to continued employment, with many seniors choosing to remain in the workforce.
Individual Responsibility and Pension System Design
The increasing number of working retirees reflects the emphasis on individual responsibility for retirement and financial planning within the pension system established in 1999.
Pension benefits are directly linked to contributions, years worked, and annual valorization rates, with each additional year of work adding 8-10 percent to the final benefit.
Changes to Sick Leave Regulations
Jaroszek also addressed recent changes to sick leave regulations, implemented in mid-April, aimed at strengthening controls and preventing abuse of the system.
The goal of the amendments is to ensure that sick leave benefits are allocated to those genuinely ill, rather than being used as a form of extended vacation.
Updates to Work Experience Calculation
Changes to the calculation of work experience are being phased in, starting January 1, 2026, for employees in the public finance sector.
These changes allow individuals to include periods of professional activity beyond traditional employment contracts towards their total work experience. ZUS has received a significant number of requests for confirmation of work experience since the beginning of the year.
ZUS Data Collection from Entrepreneurs
ZUS is preparing to calculate and collect contributions directly from entrepreneurs, a change outlined in a government legislative project from August of last year.
The implementation will be phased, beginning in 2028 with sole proprietors. The legislation is currently in an advanced stage of development.
Demographic Trends and Retirement Age
According to the Central Statistical Office, Poland’s median age is projected to exceed 50.25 years by 2060, approximately 7 years higher than in 2024. This demographic shift suggests that half of Poland’s population will be over 50 years old.
The UN forecasts that Poland’s population will decline to around 19 million by 2100. The current retirement age in Poland is 60 for women and 65 for men.
