For decades, three major industries dominated the Polish economy: agriculture, manufacturing, and mining. Even though agriculture and manufacturing continue to play important roles in the country's future, they are gradually losing ground to newly emerging industries.
Automotive
The automotive industry is a vital part of the Polish economy. Its importance is mirrored in the labor market. The automotive manufacturing industry employs approximately 180,000 people, making it the country's fourth largest industrial employer.
Business Services
The Business Services Sector, which includes BPO, IT, SSC, and R&D firms, is one of Poland's fastest growing industries. It benefits from the global trend of centralized back office functions, where the availability of skilled and dedicated employees, as well as labor cost arbitrage, are the most important factors when deciding on future business locations.
Defense and aerospace
Poland has embarked on an ambitious plan to invest in and modernize its armed forces. When combined with the statutory target of military spending at 2% of GDP (one of the highest among NATO countries, and set to rise in the not-too-distant future), the outlook for the Polish defense sector appears promising.
Information and Communications Technology
Poland maintains its leading position as a near-shore destination for Western and Northern European ICT firms. Poland was also the 'number one' destination in the CEE region for R&D projects, primarily driven by international software firms.
Outsourcing
Furthermore, the ICT industry has an impact on the growth of the outsourcing sector in Poland. The average year-on-year growth of this sector in Poland is estimated to be around 20%, and according to the Polish Investment and Trade Agency, Poland is home to more than 40% of all outsourcing centers in CEE.
Infrastructure
The main criterion of prosperity considered by key policy stakeholders in Poland is closing the infrastructure gap between modern society's demands and current capabilities. Since Poland's accession to the EU, investments in various types of infrastructure have played a critical role in the country's economic convergence.