Guests from Ukraine go on their own
A sharp increase in the economic activity of our neighbours in Poland in 2022
In 2022, there was a significant increase in the number of new businesses established by Ukrainian citizens in Poland. After February, significantly more were established than in previous years. These are mainly service activities, and the most popular industry is hairdressing and beauty treatments. But not only that. IT specialists also went out on their own in Poland this year. Still a lot of businesses (no less than in previous years) were also established in construction and transport – according to a report by the analytical company InfoCredit.
By the end of 2021, there were 7,117 businesses established by Ukrainian citizens in Poland, including 6,310 active ones. This year, there was a significant increase. By the end of August, our eastern neighbors had submitted 9,374 applications to establish a business, of which 8,446 are active.
– Business activity, despite increasing burdens and constant changes in tax regulations, is still the simplest form of business. With a PESEL number, with the help of volunteers and support of officials, it can be done practically immediately. Cooperation between Polish and Ukrainian businesses in rebuilding our neighbors’ country is still a matter of the future. Today, our guests are trying to find their place in our country, also in business, because they want to be independent – says Jerzy Wonka, Development Director at InfoCredit.
In Poland, in general, after a significant drop in applications to start a business from 26,567 in January to 21,792 in February 2022, there was another increase of approx. 5,000 in the following months. It can be assumed that this is the result of applications submitted by Ukrainians. At least partially.
Large cities as the main target
Our guests started the most businesses where there is the greatest chance of gaining customers. It is no wonder that they were most willing to go to Warsaw and the largest cities. The distance from the border did not matter here. What mattered was the attractive market, the chance to settle down and find an apartment.
This year, Ukrainian citizens started the most businesses in Mazovia (2262), Lower Silesia (1473) and Lesser Poland (1285) provinces. Pomerania is in 4th place, and Wielkopolska is in 5th place (1040 and 701 respectively). Interestingly, Silesia was not in the top five (only 459 businesses). Ukrainians started more businesses in West Pomerania (493), for example. In provinces located in the east of Poland, there were much fewer businesses by our guests. In the Podkarpackie region 209, in the Lublin region 253, and in the Podlaskie region only 59, even less than in the Warmia and Mazury region (61).
The main business and earnings target was of course Warsaw. In the capital this year, our guests established 1,764 new businesses. In second place was Krakow (1,042), which slightly overtook Wroclaw (1,040). In Wroclaw and Gdansk, 434 and 417 businesses were established, respectively. Szczecin significantly overtook Lodz (314 vs. 237), and Katowice is not in the top seven most attractive cities for starting a business according to Ukrainians.
In which industries were Ukrainian citizens most active this year? Contrary to appearances, these are not exclusively female specialties. The fact is that the largest number of applications for establishing new businesses was definitely submitted in the category “Hairdressing and other cosmetic treatments” (1,131). In second place is the activity related to software, which can be successfully performed by both women and men. This year, there was no shortage of applications for establishing businesses related to construction or transport, although in the latter case there were fewer of them than before (only 280).
– Women and children constituted the vast majority of war refugees. However, many men accompany their families to our country or simply decided not to return. So they could establish businesses when their families joined them, knowing that they would stay with us for a longer time – says Jerzy Wonka.
InfoCredit is a substantive partner of the conference “Europe – Poland – Ukraine. Rebuild Together”, which will be held on October 5 in Warsaw. The event is organized by the Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers and the Warsaw Enterprise Institute. More information: https://konferencjaukraina.zpp.net.pl/