Ukrainians remain the largest group of foreign workers in Poland, but their share in the labor market is steadily declining. Out of 1,210,027 foreign workers registered with ZUS as of the end of March 2025, 797,990 are Ukrainian citizens. Meanwhile, third-country nationals now account for half of all temporary workers in Poland, with a rapidly growing number coming from countries other than Ukraine. Among them, Colombians have seen the most dramatic increase, with their presence in the Polish labor market more than tripling in just two years, according to Gremi Personal’s Analytical Center.
In 2015, only 108 Colombians were officially working in Poland. By 2023, this number had grown to 5,200, and by March 2025, it had reached 16,389. Most Colombians are employed in the Mazowieckie Voivodeship (3,137 people), while the fewest—just 75—work in the Warmińsko-Mazurskie region. This regional disparity reflects differing unemployment levels, with the lowest unemployment found near the capital.
Employment Sectors and Roles
A total of 6,789 Colombians are employed in section N of the Polish Classification of Activities (PKD). This includes a variety of support activities that do not require specialized knowledge, such as:
- Temporary employment agency work,
- Tourism and travel agency services,
- Building maintenance,
- Packaging services,
- Equipment rental and leasing.
In 2024 alone, Polish authorities issued over 3,000 temporary or permanent residence permits to Colombian nationals.
In 2023, Colombians ranked 20th among the nationalities employed by Gremi Personal (91.67% men, 8.33% women). Just a year later, they moved up to 5th place (62.16% men, 37.84% women), behind only Ukrainians, Georgians, Belarusians, and Moldovans.
Valued for Stability, Reliability, and Motivation
“Colombians value job stability and aim for long-term relationships with employers. They are highly motivated, persistent, and reliable—traits that employers struggling with high staff turnover particularly appreciate,” said Anna Dzhobolda, Director of International Recruitment at Gremi Personal.
The majority work in the broad food production sector, including:
- Fruit and vegetable processing,
- Fish, dairy, and meat plants,
- Ice cream and pastry production facilities.
New Visa Requirements and Legal Work Status
As of August 15, 2024, Colombians working in Poland are required to hold a visa, regardless of the duration of their intended stay. However, those who arrived before that date under visa-free entry and began working with a valid work permit may continue to do so legally.
Some Colombian workers entered the Schengen Area through countries other than Poland and then traveled internally to Poland without a visa. It is difficult to estimate how many Colombians hold biometric passports, but the number of work permits granted to them surged by 352% between 2023 and 2024. Prior to the visa restrictions, Colombians were allowed to stay and work in Poland for up to 90 days under the visa-free regime.
Strategic Labor Force, Not Just Temporary Help
The sharp rise in the number of Colombians on the Polish labor market is not just a result of opened migration channels. It signals a shift in perception: migrant workers are now seen as strategic assets, not just a way to fill temporary vacancies.
“In sectors like food processing and logistics—characterized by high turnover and operational pressure—Colombian workers are increasingly regarded as long-term investments,” says Yuriy Grygorenko, Director of Gremi Personal’s Analytical Center.
This trend highlights how global talent mobility and geopolitical shifts are reshaping local HR strategies. Employers are being forced to rethink their approaches to employee retention, onboarding, and employer branding, recognizing the growing importance of migrant workers in ensuring business continuity and growth.
