📌 The MRPiPS Shortage Occupations List — what it is and why it matters

The Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy (MRPiPS) has prepared a new list of shortage occupations, covering more than 300 professions in which the Polish labour market faces significant staffing shortages. The list was published as part of a draft regulation that is expected to enter into force in the near future.

📊 What are shortage occupations?

Shortage occupations are professions in which employers have difficulty finding suitable employees on the local labour market. Examples include, among others:

• medical professions — doctors of various specialisations, nurses, paramedics,
• transport and logistics — truck and bus drivers, machine operators,
• technical and industrial roles — welders, electricians, engineers,
• IT specialists — application designers, system administrators,
• selected craft professions and niche specialisations.

This is a much broader catalogue than earlier, shorter shortage lists (e.g. the Barometr Zawodów / Occupational Barometer), which typically identified around 20–30 of the most in-demand professions in a given year.

🚀 Why is this list important for work permits for foreigners?

✅ 1. Priority processing of applications (“fast track”)

The key function of the shortage occupations list is to streamline and speed up procedures for legalising the work and stay of foreigners who are to be employed in occupations included on the list. MRPiPS anticipates that applications relating to such occupations will be given priority — the so-called “fast track”.

This means that:

• the voivode (regional governor) should process such applications as a priority,
• foreigners working in shortage occupations can expect shorter waiting times for decisions on work permits and residence permits for employment purposes,
• Polish consulates should also take the list into account when prioritising employee visa applications.

⚖️ A change in the administrative approach

Moving away from the labour market test

Until recently, a key stage in issuing work permits was the so-called starosta’s information confirming the inability to meet staffing needs on the local labour market — i.e. the labour market test, which often prolonged procedures. However, as of 1 June 2025, this test has been abolished and replaced with mechanisms based on occupation lists.

Flexibility and updates

The list prepared by MRPiPS is open-ended and will be regularly updated based on labour market analyses, the Occupational Barometer, and statistical data.

📍 Summary — what benefits does the list bring for foreigners and employers?

Foreigners
🟢 faster procedures for obtaining permits and visas,
🟢 greater predictability of the legalisation process,
🟢 better alignment of employment with labour market needs

Employers
🟢 simplified formalities,
🟢 shorter time to employ workers from abroad,
🟢 easier recruitment in shortage occupations

The MRPiPS shortage occupations list is therefore an important tool of migration and labour market policy — not only facilitating legal employment in Poland for foreigners, but also supporting businesses in gaining access to the workforce they need.