IKEA has announced layoffs of up to 240 people at its Wielbark plant. In two years, the sector has lost over 22,000 jobs.
\nThe Polish furniture industry is deepening its crisis, which has affected not only smaller factories but also the largest players in the market. One of the most telling signs is IKEA's decision to further reduce its workforce in Poland. Over the past two years, more than 22,000 people have lost their jobs in the sector, with some estimates suggesting as many as 25,000.<\/p>\n
The industry has been experiencing a decline in orders for several quarters, driven by lower consumer activity in Europe and globally. The sector, long a pillar of Polish exports, is experiencing a significant weakening in demand\u2014exacerbated by the slowdown in the real estate market, high interest rates, and a decline in sales in key export markets such as Germany and the UK. The situation is further complicated by rising energy, raw material, and wage costs, which are impacting both large manufacturers and subcontractors, who are increasingly struggling to maintain profitability.<\/p>\n
The planned layoffs are expected to affect the IKEA plant in Wielbark, where up to 240 of its 1,507 employees could lose their jobs. The company cites the difficult economic situation and the need to adapt production to weaker demand as a reason for the decision, while also declaring support for departing employees and cooperation with labor offices.<\/p>\n
Representatives of Poland's wood and furniture sector are increasingly demanding a government response. They believe aid should primarily cover energy costs, business financing, and instruments to maintain jobs. Business organizations warn that without protective measures, more plants may reduce production or carry out further layoffs\u2014and in smaller towns, some may disappear from the market entirely. Proposed support options also include expanding exports to new, non-EU markets.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":98723,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5204],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-98722","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n