The scale of employment of foreigners in Poland has been steadily growing each year. In 2018, a total of 328,800 work permits were issued to foreigners representing 125 countries of origin. The number of work permits granted increased nearly 40% compared to the previous year and was five times greater than in 2015. The vast majority of foreign workers in Poland were men (77.2%).

The largest group of foreigners working in Poland were Ukrainians (72.5%). For the first time, the second largest group were Nepalese (around 6.1%). They were most often employed in the Opolskie Voivodeship, the fastest depopulating region in Poland. Significant numbers of work permits were also granted to Belarusians (5.8%) as well as to Indians and Pakistanis (2.5% each).

Every fourth work permit was issued in the Mazowieckie Voivodeship, but the share of this region in the total employment of foreigners in Poland has been decreasing. By comparison, five years ago, work permits issued in this voivodeship constituted almost half of all work permits issued in Poland. The only voivodeship (out of 16) in which the employment of foreigners decreased was the Zlskie Voivodeship. The lowest numbers of work permits were issued in three eastern voivodeships—Zwitokrzyskie, Podlaskie and Podkarpackie (below 2%).

Work permits in Poland are issued for a period of up to three years. Almost all work permits in 2018 (97.4%) were granted for the first time. It is worth stressing the significant role of work agencies in recruiting workers from abroad, especially from distant Asian countries.

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