Poland continues to shine brightly on the global map of business services investments. The country is very attractive to investors due to its strong economic fundamentals, availability of skilled labour and system of financial and tax incentives, according to the report ‘Delivered from Poland’, prepared jointly by JLL Poland, Hays Poland, ALTO and the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH).
In 2025, Poland remains a significant economic power – it is the sixth largest economy in the European Union, after Germany, Italy, France, Spain and the Netherlands. This year marks the 21st anniversary of Poland’s accession to the EU. The latest research shows that GDP per capita in Poland is currently 40 percent higher than it would be without membership in these structures. Over the past 20 years, Poland’s GDP has tripled, reflecting the remarkable economic transformation since accession in 2004.
Active participation in EU economic and social structures continues to strengthen Poland’s position in Europe and the world, consolidating its role as a leader in the Central and Eastern European region. In recent years, the Polish economy has grown steadily at a pace that many European countries and others could envy. Poland’s key strengths include a well-educated and skilled workforce, a mature and innovative economy with a high degree of digitalisation, and a favourable system of investment incentives.
“Macroeconomic benefits, the country’s political position and stability are key factors in investment decisions. However, ultimately, it is people who determine the success of a given venture. Polish specialists are known for their excellent language skills, ability to adapt to new technologies and innovative thinking. Years of close cooperation with Western companies have given them a deep understanding of international business practices and management standards,” says Radosław Pituch, Manager in the Investment Department at PAIH.
Inflation under control
Between 2022 and early 2025, there was a marked change in consumer price dynamics. In 2022, Poland struggled with high inflation, which was the result of the war in Ukraine, turmoil in the energy market and demand pressure following the Covid-19 pandemic. At that time, the index rose to 17-18 percent, which meant unpredictable operating costs on a global scale. In 2023, inflation fell from 16 percent in January to 6 percent in December. In 2024, we saw inflation stabilise at between 3.5 percent and 4.5 percent, which was much closer to the National Bank of Poland’s inflation target (2.5 percent +/- 1 pp).
In the last month surveyed (July 2025), the situation is stable. The lack of significant fluctuations over the last year and a half should therefore be a sign of stability and predictability for investors.
A healthy labour market and the availability of skilled labour
Poland continues to enjoy a relatively low unemployment rate. In the first four months of 2025, the registered unemployment rate in Poland ranged from 5.4 percent in January to 5.2 percent in April. Throughout 2024, this rate fluctuated between 4.9 percent and 5.4 percent. Currently, there are 6.455 million full-time jobs, and the economic activity rate is 62.4 percent.
Poland’s access to highly qualified personnel continues to attract foreign investors. In addition, in recent years, Poland has benefited from an influx of foreign workers, numbering almost 1 million. They come to Poland mainly from regions such as Ukraine, Belarus and Central Asia.
One of the key investment advantages of Poland in the business services sector – including IT, new technologies and advanced research and development – is the wide availability of a diverse and highly qualified talent pool. According to the authors of the report, the domestic labour market is shaped by international standards and a global approach. As the most populous country in Central and Eastern Europe and the fifth largest in the European Union, Poland offers a significant demographic advantage. Approximately 35 percent of the population has a higher education degree, which is a key factor in attracting the best talent in the field of specialised business services. In addition, 63 percent of Poles are of working age, ensuring a strong and sustainable supply of skilled professionals in the future.
There are around 1.2 million students in Poland, 25 percent of whom study engineering-related subjects. Poland ranks high in the EU in terms of the number of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) graduates and is a leader in terms of the number of women studying these subjects.
“Investors who have placed their trust in Poland and opened their shared service centres here often decide to expand their operations, for example, by adding production plants or research and development centres. Increasingly, they are also transferring positions with international responsibilities to Polish centres. Although the number of job offers for less experienced employees in the local business services sector is falling, the demand for experts continues to grow. These factors perfectly illustrate the ongoing evolution of Poland’s image – from a market competing for investors with low costs to a strategic location for advanced and highly specialised projects,” says Łukasz Grzeszczyk, Executive Director CEE, Investors Consulting & Talent Location Strategy, Hays Poland.
Large cities drive the expansion
The dynamic development of the business services sector in Poland has become a permanent feature of the country’s economic landscape. According to the latest ABSL data, 55 new business service centres were established in 2024, and another 6 centres were opened in the first quarter of 2025, creating approximately 5,400 new jobs. As in previous years, most of the new investments come from companies with foreign capital.
Warsaw and Kraków remain the most well-known and mature locations for this type of activity. However, the sector is also developing outside these two cities. Every economically significant agglomeration in Poland has its own unique advantages that increase its investment attractiveness.
The Polish business services sector in figures:
- Over 2,000 BPO, SSC/GBS, IT and R&D business service centres operating throughout the country in 2025 (over 1,800 in 2024)
- USD 42.3 billion in exports of knowledge-based business services in 2024 (USD 36.8 billion in 2023)
- Employment in the industry – over 480,000 jobs
- The industry’s estimated share of Poland’s GDP in 2025 will be 5.7% (5.3% in 2024).
- From the beginning of 2024 to the end of the first quarter of 2025, 61 business service centres commenced operations.
- Nine locations where business service centres operate employ over 10,000 people.
- Two cities where employment in this sector exceeds 100,000 people are Warsaw and Krakow.
- 19.6% – this is the share of foreigners employed in the sector.
- 58.6% – the share of jobs requiring a high level of knowledge in industry centres at the end of the first quarter of 2024.
Source: ABSL 2025 Report
Investors look at incentives
Investment incentives are becoming an increasingly important criterion in the process of selecting locations for new investment projects. Public aid allows for a significant reduction in initial investment costs and supports the long-term economic profitability of investments.
“Only a small percentage of investors take full advantage of the available opportunities to support their investment plans. This is due to a combination of factors: firstly, the lack of comprehensive information about available incentives; secondly, the complexity of application procedures; and thirdly, time constraints that are rarely compatible with the investment schedule. However, it should be emphasised that not taking advantage of investment incentives can directly affect the competitiveness of companies and their growth dynamics. In this context, the Polish incentive system is considered relatively attractive for several reasons. The level of permissible state aid in Poland is among the highest in the European Union. For example, large enterprises can count on support of up to 50 percent of eligible investment costs. In addition, the Polish incentive system offers a variety of instruments, allowing each investor to find the most suitable form of support. Importantly, companies can also count on clear application procedures and institutional support,” comments Iwona Chojnowska-Haponik, Business Location Consulting Director, JLL.
One of the most popular forms of support for investors is tax relief for research and development. Poland offers some of the most competitive tax incentives for R&D activities among OECD countries, making it an attractive location for the BSS sector implementing innovative projects.
“The development of highly competitive tax incentives, combined with rapidly developing e-government, demonstrates Poland’s commitment to creating an investor-friendly business environment. BSS companies find not only a cost-effective operational base in our country, but also an increasingly predictable and cooperative tax system. A key role is played by the rapidly advancing digitisation of settlements, a prime example of which is the National e-Invoice System currently being implemented,” says Tobiasz Dolny, tax advisor and partner at ALTO.
Office market – transformation continues
The last decade has been a period of dynamic growth for the Polish office property market, driven by the influx of international corporations into our country. Between 2015 and 2025, the total office space in Poland increased from 7.1 million sqm to over 13 million sqm. Regional cities have benefited particularly from the rapid development of the business services industry – currently, this sector accounts for over 60 percent of demand outside Warsaw. This remarkable expansion gives Poland a competitive advantage as an attractive location for BPO/SSC investments.
However, recent years have also seen a major change in the function of office space and how it is used. After the pandemic, many tenants decided to implement a hybrid working model. According to a JLL survey, a significant proportion of BPO/SSC employees work remotely for more than three days a week. Employers perceive their office space requirements differently than they did five years ago and are in the process of transforming their workplaces. A strong focus on space optimisation, adaptation to the hybrid working model and employee experience is now visible. Most tenants are holding off on making long-term and capital-intensive decisions.
As a result, the office market has seen a significant increase in the number of lease renewals, most often for a period of 3 to 5 years. Over the past five years, lease renewals have accounted for almost 45 percent of total activity in nine key office markets in Poland. As a result, with limited new net demand and high vacancy rates (e.g. over 20 percent in Katowice, Wrocław and Łódź), developers are holding back on new projects. This situation means that offices offering the highest quality, in the most attractive locations and well connected to other parts of the city, are being leased first. This trend is particularly evident in Warsaw and Kraków – foreign entities planning to open offices in these cities should take into account in their expansion plans that there is strong competition for the best office space there. In other cities, where there are no problems with finding ready-made offices, potential tenants have a strong negotiating position.
“Due to the lower supply of new office developments over the next 2–3 years and the concentration of available space in less attractive buildings and locations, competition for the best offices will continue to intensify. Companies need to carefully define their expectations for the space they are looking for and actively search for it. The most sought-after projects will be those located in central business districts, buildings with high ESG standards and environmental certifications, as well as ‘destination workplaces’ that can help attract and retain the best talent,” says Karol Patynowski, Head of Regional Markets Office Leasing, JLL.
