It Is Now Known Which EU Country Leads in Employing Migrant Blue-Collar Workers

In 2023, Poland issued 642,800 permanent residence permits to foreigners — the highest number in the entire European Union. In total, EU countries issued more than 3.7 million residence permits to foreign nationals. Ukrainian citizens received the most permits across the EU (307,313), followed by citizens of Belarus (281,279) and India (207,966).

Poland leads this ranking, having issued 17% of all permits in the EU. Germany came second with 16% (586,140 permits), and Spain placed third with 15% (549,000 permits) — as reported by the Gremi Personal Analytics Centre, citing Eurostat data. Figures for 2024 are expected in the autumn of this year.

The primary reason for issuing permits across the EU in 2023 was employment, which accounted for 33.8% of all permits. Family reasons were behind 14.3% of permits, while other factors — including international protection — accounted for 25.6%.

Notably, in Poland, 66.5% of all permits were issued for work-related reasons, just 3% for family reasons, 4.8% for education, and 25.7% for other reasons (international protection or residence without the right to work, e.g. retirees).

In 2023, approximately 89,000 foreign workers received the EU Blue Card, which allows highly qualified specialists to work in the EU. 78% of these cards were issued in Germany, while Poland ranked second, issuing 7% of the cards — more than 10 times fewer than Germany. This indicates that Poland primarily attracts blue-collar workers.

At present, the average waiting time for work and residence legalisation in Poland is:

• 4 months for a work permit
• from 6 months to 2 years for a residence permit

"The fact that Poland issues the largest number of residence and work permits in the EU deserves recognition and should be seen as evidence of dynamic economic growth and the openness of the Polish labour market," comments Yuriy Hryhorenko, a representative of the Gremi Personal Analytics Centre.

The agency notes that Poland has become an attractive destination for immigrants, which shows that its labour market is flexible and capable of meeting workforce needs regardless of political discussions in the country or the EU. Unlike Germany, which is currently grappling with a recession, or Spain, which has faced economic difficulties for years, Poland is able to attract a significant number of foreign workers.

"Although Poland is not the first choice for highly qualified specialists, it is gradually becoming more attractive for them. Poland has room for further development — in particular by improving working conditions and simplifying administrative procedures. Overall, Poland should continue pursuing policies that encourage an influx of labour — not only unskilled workers, but also highly qualified professionals," — Hryhorenko adds.