Analysis of the Impact of the European Social Fund on the SME Sector in Poland
Analysis of the Impact of the European Social Fund on the SME Sector in Poland

Summary/Abstract: The aim of this article is to assess the impact of the European Social Fund (ESF) on the development of human capital in the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector. The methodology for the preparation of the projects implemented under the Knowledge, Education and Development Programme was analysed. Since 2004, the ESF has directly influenced all the main determinants of Poland’s economic development by supporting the pursuit of a high level of employment, improvement of access to the labour market and professional mobility of employees. It facilitates adaptation to the changes taking place in industry, enables the organisation of training for professional activity and supports the transition of young people from education to employment. It is also one of the main factors strengthening the process of the incubation of new business activities. In the article, the author highlights the problems related to the functioning of the SME sector and, above all, the unacceptably low level of involvement from employers and employees in the education process. This low level of involvement produces low quality human capital which is unable to face the challenges and changes currently taking place on the labour market.

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