The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Situation of the Unemployed in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this article is to try to assess the impact of COVID-19 on the situation of unemployed people in Poland. Podkarpackie voivodeship, one of the regions in Poland which for many years has belonged to the group of Polish voivodeships with the highest level of unemployment, was used as a case study. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study used a multiple correspondence analysis and Ward's method. Their application allowed for the identification of regularities regarding respondents' opinions on the labour market during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings: The methods used in the study turned out to be a helpful tool in presenting the impact of the pandemic on the situation of the unemployed. They indicated several discrepancies in the perception of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the labour market by groups with different demographic and social characteristics. As the pandemic situation is still not stabilised, such analyses as in this article should be continued in the coming years. That will permit the observation of regularities or their absence, especially after the pandemic has ended. Practical Implications: The results of this type of research can help both labour market institutions and working, employed and unemployed people to understand how the pandemic affects the labour market, especially the situation of the unemployed. Such information will be helpful, on the one hand, in making decisions by labour market institutions regarding their future activities and, on the other hand, in shaping the individual's career path in times of crisis. Thus, the study fills the research gap in this area. Originality/value: The article contributes to the current scientific discussion on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the situation of the unemployed in Europe.