Since 2022, Ukrainians have opened nearly 90,000 companies in Poland.
This is stated in a study by the analytical center Gremi Personal.
Over the past three years, Ukrainians have registered 77.7 thousand individual entrepreneurs (IE) in Poland, which accounts for 9% of all registered businesses during this period. Additionally, 11.3 thousand companies with Ukrainian capital were founded. Among all IEs opened in Poland in 2024, 12% were owned by Ukrainian citizens. Ukrainians made up 84% of all FOPs registered by foreigners. This information is provided by the analytical center of the international employment company Gremi Personal, citing the Polish Economic Institute.
The most popular sectors for Ukrainian companies are construction (23%), information and communications (18%), and other services (13%). In the "other services" sector, 82% of companies provide hairdressing and beauty services. Between 2022 and 2024, the number of Ukrainian companies grew annually by an average of 34%. Together, these three industries account for more than half of all registered businesses.
As of February 2024, only 3,635 Polish companies were registered in the Ukrainian business space. This is 21 times fewer than the number of Ukrainian IEs in Poland. About 31% of Polish companies in Ukraine operate in wholesale and retail trade, 17% in manufacturing, and more than 8% focus on professional, scientific, and technical activities. Around 7% of companies work in administrative and support services, according to data published by YOU Control. Interestingly, more than half of Polish companies are registered in Lviv and Kyiv regions.
"The growth in the number of Ukrainian businesses in Poland vividly illustrates not only the activity and adaptability of Ukrainians but also structural changes in the Polish labor market. Many Ukrainians who previously worked for employers are now choosing self-employment or opening their own businesses. This is not only a response to labor market limitations but also an efficient way to use their own skills and experience," says Yurii Hryhorenko, a representative of Gremi Personal.
Analysts have also observed changes in employers' behavior. More Polish companies are open to working with Ukrainian contractors and entrepreneurs, especially in the construction, logistics, and industrial sectors. However, there are challenges, such as bureaucracy during business registration and the search for partners for sustainable development.
"Polish businesses show significant interest in opening companies in Ukraine, especially in the Subcarpathian Voivodeship, which borders the Ukrainian border. The biggest investment potential is observed in the construction, manufacturing, and HoReCa sectors. However, security remains a key factor in decision-making. Ukraine is also interested in attracting Polish entrepreneurs. Therefore, the state must create favorable conditions for their activities so that European businesses can operate in Ukraine after the war," adds Hryhorenko.
According to a study by the Forum for Responsible Development, without immigration after 2014, Poland's GDP in 2023 would have been 2.3% lower. In the long term, migration will contribute to a 12.5% increase in GDP by 2050.
