A new era of labor migration: who is building the future of the Polish labor market?
- dariakalenikova
- Sep 4
- 2 min read
The Polish labor market is at a crucial stage of transformation in 2025. On the one hand, we are facing demographic challenges – an aging population, low fertility, and the outflow of some Polish workers abroad. On the other, we are increasingly experiencing the positive impact of the growing number of foreign workers, who are becoming a crucial pillar of the economy.
Who really drives the Polish economy?
According to data from the Central Statistical Office (GUS) from the end of February 2025, 1.057 million foreigners worked in Poland, of whom 708,900 were Ukrainian citizens. Ukrainians remain the largest and most important group of economic migrants, accounting for approximately 67% of all foreigners employed in Poland.
However, the structure of migration is changing rapidly. In addition to Ukrainians, workers from Asia and Latin America are becoming increasingly present.
New migration destinations: Colombia, Philippines, Nepal
Data from the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Policy indicate that in recent months, the number of workers from:
Colombia – in the first four months of 2025 alone, 15,400 work permits were issued. This is a record among all nationalities. The Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) already has 17,900 Colombians registered, placing them in 5th place among foreigners working in Poland.
Philippines – according to data from GS24, Filipinos are becoming an increasingly large group. In 2024, the number of permits issued to this nationality increased by 60%.
Nepal – Nepalese saw a 46% increase compared to the previous year and are increasingly employed in the logistics, construction, and processing industries.
To this should be added workers from India, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Mexico who – according to GS24 – are increasingly choosing Poland as an alternative to the labor markets in Germany or Scandinavian countries.
Multiculturalism as a response to labor shortages
According to demographic estimates, Poland could lose as many as 2.1 million economically active people by 2035. Staff shortages are already particularly evident in sectors such as:
manufacturing,
logistics and transport,
industrial processing,
construction,
food, and agriculture.
These industries are increasingly turning to foreign workers. Hiring foreigners is becoming not so much a supplement as a necessity to maintain production continuity and further economic development.
Benefits and challenges
The influx of foreigners brings a number of benefits – it helps fill staffing gaps, supports business development, and ensures Poland's competitiveness in Europe. Multicultural teams are also more flexible and creative, which is appreciated by a growing number of companies.
On the other hand, experts emphasize the need for responsible management of labor migration. Workers from other countries often accept lower wages, which can impact labor market standards in the long term. The government is also considering introducing additional regulations regarding visa-free travel – especially for Colombians.
In summary, 2025 shows that Poland is becoming an increasingly multicultural workplace in Europe. Ukrainian citizens still constitute the largest group of employees, but migrants from Asia and Latin America are playing an increasingly important role.
For employers, this means opening up to diversity and skillfully building teams that embrace different languages, cultures, and work styles. This is not only a challenge but also a huge opportunity for the future.
