Poland Seeks Large Number of Foreign Workers in Multiple Sectors

Despite having the second-lowest unemployment rate in the EU, Poland is facing a shortage of workers in various sectors. Industries actively hiring include healthcare, physical labor, and the food and services sector.

The Ministry of Family and Social Policy in Poland has highlighted the ongoing scarcity of personnel in the country’s labor market.

While acknowledging this shortage, Polish authorities have noted that the inclusion of foreigners, particularly Ukrainians, has helped alleviate these workforce challenges.

Poland ranks fifth in terms of economic activity rates of foreigners among all EU Member States, reaching 81.6% in 2022, surpassing the EU average of 72.5%. This suggests that foreigners seeking to live and work in Poland may benefit from labor shortages, potentially improving their chances of obtaining a visa if their profession aligns with the country’s labor needs.

Also Read: Germany Requires Over 700,000 Foreign Workers For Multiple Jobs in 2024

Certainly, here is a list of occupations across various sectors 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

For those requiring a visa to work in Poland, individuals from EU/EEA countries or Switzerland are exempt. Non-EU citizens must obtain a work permit from Polish employers before applying for a work visa at the Polish Embassy.

Before initiating the visa application process, foreigners must select one of the five types of work permits that align with their job circumstances.

Poland remains an attractive destination for individuals seeking employment opportunities, as evidenced by the issuance of thousands of national visas in the past year and the first half of 2023. Notably, in 2022, Poland granted 138,789 work visas to Ukrainians, 120,914 national visas to Belarusians, and 10,946 national visas to Turks.