Ukrainian entrepreneurs operating sole proprietorships (JDG) in Poland have encountered significant restrictions when trying to officially employ other foreign nationals. This issue has particularly affected Ukrainians running commercial activities in the Republic of Poland who wish to hire compatriots with PESEL UKR status, as well as citizens of non-EU countries.
The legal barriers essentially mean that individual entrepreneurs under the JDG format face much stricter hurdles when hiring workers whose legal employment requires processing through labor offices or voivodeship offices. At the same time, the law allows such businesses to freely hire citizens of Poland, EU member states, the European Economic Area, Switzerland, and foreigners holding unrestricted access to the Polish labor market.
Three Key Alternatives for Business
To overcome these obstacles, experts and legal advisors outline three primary alternative staffing methods. The first option involves transforming or establishing a company in the sp. z o.o. legal form, which is the Polish equivalent of a limited liability company. This step opens up broad opportunities for hiring any foreign nationals, though it incurs additional financial and administrative costs for bookkeeping.
The second approach involves collaborating via B2B contracts directly with independent contractors. This format is only applicable when the engaged person genuinely runs an independent business activity. The third and most popular alternative is utilizing temporary employment agencies, which handle all paperwork and statutory ZUS contributions.
Scale of Ukrainian Entrepreneurship and Market Trends
According to official data from the Polish Economic Institute, the scale of Ukrainian business presence in the country is substantial. Between 2022 and 2025, Ukrainian citizens registered 109.1 thousand sole proprietorships (JDG) in Poland, with 31.4 thousand businesses opened in 2025 alone. Construction (24%) and IT services (13%) emerged as the most popular sectors.
Notably, in the second quarter of 2026, the Polish labor market has shown new trends: companies have become more cautious about hiring permanent staff, increasingly opting for temporary workers, outsourcing, and subcontracting. Furthermore, a steady trend toward short-term labor migration persists among Ukrainians seeking to earn a living while riding out harsh winters under stable conditions.
