We've never seen anything like this before. A mass influx into Poland.

• Colombians are becoming one of the fastest growing groups of foreigners on the Polish labor market.
• In just two years, their number has more than tripled.
• They most often find employment in the food industry, where they are increasingly replacing workers from other countries.

Ukrainians remain the largest group of foreigners working in Poland, although their share in the labor market is gradually declining. According to the Gremi Personal Analytical Center, of the 1,210,027 foreigners employed in Poland, 797,990 are Ukrainian citizens.

At the same time, the number of citizens from countries other than Ukraine is growing rapidly. Colombian citizens have seen a more than three-fold increase in two years, we read.

In 2015, only 108 people from Colombia worked in Poland , but in 2023, this number increased to 5,200, and in 2025, it reached 16,389. In two years, the participation of Colombians in the labor market has more than tripled. At the same time, the number of positive decisions regarding their permanent or temporary residence is growing – over 3,000 were issued in 2024.

Most Colombians work in the broadly defined food industry:

• in fruit and vegetable processing plants,
• fish,
• milk,
• meat,
• from fruit processing to the production of ice cream and cakes.

Yuriy Grygorenko, director of the Gremi Personal Analytical Center, points out that the dynamic growth in the number of Colombians on the Polish labor market is not only the result of the opening of migration channels - it is a clear signal that in conditions of chronic staff shortages, migrant workers are becoming a real strategic asset, and not just a temporary "filler" for vacancies.

"In sectors like the food industry and logistics, where turnover and operational pressures are particularly high, stable, motivated Colombian employees are increasingly viewed as a long-term investment. This example clearly demonstrates how global talent mobility and geopolitical changes are influencing local HR strategies, forcing companies to redefine their approach to retention, onboarding, and employer branding," the expert comments.