Poland is reducing employment in coal mining at a pace faster than the 2021 social agreement predicted. The latest report by the Instrat Foundation identifies 66 counties tied to the coal industry, with some regions facing severe economic shock. The most vulnerable areas, including Jastrzębie-Zdrój and the vicinity of the Bogdanka mine, could become the biggest losers of the transition.
The social pact signed in 2021 assumed a gradual phase-out of coal mining by 2049. However, according to the Instrat Foundation’s report „Coal Phase-out in Poland and Neighbouring Countries,” obtained by Interia, actual declines in hard coal output are already exceeding that timeline. The foundation mapped 66 counties that rely on coal extraction, processing or combustion.
Some of those regions, like Bełchatów, Bieruń-Lędziny, Mikołów, or Rybnik, have more diversified economies and should weather the transition more smoothly. Others, however, are much more dependent. The so-called „coal core” includes the Silesian mining hubs, especially Jastrzębie-Zdrój, as well as the area around the Lubelski Węgiel „Bogdanka” mine in Łęczna County. These places could feel the closure of pits most acutely.
Thousands leaving the mines
Concrete consequences are already visible. During a parliamentary hearing, trade union representatives from Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa (JSW) reported that mass use of state-supported severance packages and mining leave has created staffing shortages. Basic positions remain unfilled, and shift schedules are hard to complete.
According to the unions, 4,248 JSW employees – that is 20 percent of the total workforce – have opted for the early exit programs. This wave of departures is straining operations and raising concerns about safety and efficiency. The company is struggling to maintain production levels as the energy transition accelerates.
What awaits the coal regions?
The Instrat report warns that without targeted state intervention, the hardest-hit counties could face a long-term economic depression. Many local businesses depend on mining-related supply chains, and the loss of thousands of well-paid jobs will ripple through services, construction, and retail.
Discussions on how to manage the transition are scheduled for the Future Mining Forum & Expo, taking place September 9-11, 2026, at the International Congress Centre in Katowice. The event aims to chart a new chapter for the extractive sector. However, for communities built around coal, the future remains uncertain.
The Polish government has yet to present a comprehensive regional plan. Unions demand guarantees for alternative employment, retraining programs, and social protection. Meanwhile, the pace of mine closures continues to outstrip official forecasts, leaving thousands of families in limbo.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. Shutterstock/adamsadlak
