Foreign employment trends in Poland: What industries are hiring?

A recent report by the Polish Economic Institute (PIE), ”Polacy o cudzoziemcach na rynku pracy – fakty, mity, opinie” (eng. Foreigners in the Labor Market - Facts, Myths, Opinions) offers key insights into companies hiring foreigners in the country. And here's what the data reveals:

Corporations vs. Microenterprises: Which companies hire foreigners?

Not all Polish companies engage foreign workers. According to PIE’s survey, slightly more than a quarter of businesses have hired or currently employ foreigners. However, this trend varies widely depending on company size and industry.

• Large companies lead the way, with 41% reporting the employment of foreign workers.
• Microenterprises are the least likely to hire foreigners, with just 13% engaging them.

What industries are most (and least) likely to employ foreign talent?

The top industries hiring foreigners include:

• Accommodation and catering (50% of companies in this sector employ foreigners),
• Construction (36%),
• Transport and storage (36%),
• Industrial processing (35%).

In contrast, service companies (15%) and administration and support services (16%) are less likely to employ foreign workers.

Why do Polish companies hire foreigners?

There are many reasons why many employers in Poland seek to hire outside the country. However, the primary motivations mostly reflect practical labor market challenges:

7 out of 10 companies cite the lack of available Polish workers as the main reason for hiring foreigners. This is especially true for:

• Administration and support services (88%),
• Industrial processing (84%),
• Transportation (78%).

Over half of surveyed companies report hiring foreigners because Polish workers lack the necessary qualifications. Manufacturing (71%) and transportation (64%) are particularly affected, along with information and communications (58%), where specialized skills are often a prerequisite.

A smaller percentage (12%) of companies find hiring foreigners to be more cost-effective.

This is particularly noted among microenterprises and construction firms (20% each).

Interestingly, only 12% of employers cite higher labor productivity as a reason for hiring foreign workers.

The growing importance of foreign workers in Poland

As the number of foreign workers in Poland increases, the country’s labor market is inevitably evolving. While Ukrainians remain the dominant group, the gradual rise of employees from Central Asia and the Far East indicates a broadening pool of foreign talent.

For Polish companies, hiring foreign workers isn’t just a solution to immediate labor shortages –it can also be considered a strategic response to long-term challenges in workforce availability and skill specialization.