Country Seeks to Fill Gaps in Varied Sectors, Welcomes Foreign Workers
Despite boasting the EU’s second-lowest unemployment rate, Poland is encountering a significant shortage of workers across multiple industries, prompting efforts to recruit personnel from various backgrounds.
Industries in urgent need of new hires span healthcare, physical labor, and the food and services sectors. A press release issued this September by Poland’s Ministry of Family and Social Policy emphasized the persistent scarcity of personnel in the country’s labor market.
Acknowledging the ongoing deficits, Polish authorities have turned to include foreigners, particularly Ukrainian citizens, to mitigate these shortages. Employers have displayed considerable interest in recruiting foreign workers to fill the gaps.
Poland stands out by ranking fifth in economic activity rates of foreigners among EU Member States, registering 81.6% in 2022, surpassing the EU average of 72.5%. This presents an opportunity for foreign nationals aiming to live and work in Poland, especially in professions aligning with the country’s labor needs, as labor shortages could increase their visa prospects.
Key sectors grappling with significant shortages, as identified by the European Labour Authority (EURES), encompass healthcare, construction, skilled trades, and IT. The demand for occupations varies from Woodworking Machine Tool Setters and Operators to Finance Managers.
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Occupations in Demand in Poland:
- Woodworking Machine Tool Setters and Operators
- Wood Treaters
- Wood Processing Plant Operators
- Welders and Flame Cutters
- Vocational Education Teachers
- Toolmakers and Related Workers
- Teaching Professionals Not Elsewhere Classified
- Stock Clerks
- Sheet Metal Workers
- Roofers
- Psychologists
- Plumbers and Pipe Fitters
- Physiotherapy Technicians and Assistants
- Physiotherapists
- Payroll Clerks
- Painters and Related Workers
- Motor Vehicle Mechanics and Repairers
- Midwifery Professionals
- Metal Working Machine Tool Setters and Operators
- Metal Polishers, Wheel Grinders, and Tool Sharpeners
- Lifting Truck Operators
- Legal and Related Associate Professionals
- House Builders
- Heavy Truck and Lorry Drivers
- Handicraft Workers in Wood, Basketry, and Related Fields
- Generalist Medical Practitioners
- Floor Layers and Tile Setters
- Finance Managers
- Earthmoving and Related Plant Operators
- Cooks
- Concrete Placers, Concrete Finishers, and Related Workers
- Civil Engineering Labourers
- Carpenters and Joiners
- Cabinet-makers and Related Workers
- Bus and Tram Drivers
- Building Structure Cleaners
- Building Frame and Related Trades Workers
- Building Construction Labourers
- Building and Related Electricians
- Bricklayers and Related Workers
- Bakers, Pastry-cooks, and Confectionery Makers
- Ambulance Workers
- Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics
- Accounting Associate Professionals
- Accounting and Bookkeeping Clerks
Non-EU citizens must obtain a work permit from Polish employers before securing a work visa at the Polish Embassy. However, citizens from EU/EEA countries or Switzerland are exempt from this requirement. Before initiating the visa application process, foreigners must select a suitable work permit aligned with their job circumstances.
Poland remains an appealing destination for job seekers, issuing numerous national visas in the past year and the first half of 2023. In 2022, the country granted 138,789 work visas to Ukrainians, 120,914 national visas to Belarusians, and 10,946 national visas to Turks.
