| Poland has managed to keep the unemployment rate under control during the economic slowdown. Poland's registered unemployment rate remained flat at 10.8% for August. Polish economy records the best growth rate among the EU countries. In the second quarter of this year Poland recorded a 1.4% GDP growth y-o-y according to the Central Statistical Office.
Latest data shows that the Polish economy has been growing also in quarterly terms: the second quarter of 2009 in comparison to the first quarter of the year recorded a 0.5% growth while the former period (i.e. the 1st quarter of 2009 against the 4th quarter 2008) faced an increase of 0.3%. As of the 1. January 2010 conscription, compulsory military service for students and graduates will end in Poland. This means that Polish military is made up of fully professional forces in the future. | 
