Poland’s construction sector is facing an unprecedented labor crunch. With the nuclear power plant, Central Communication Port (CPK), energy investments, roads, railways, and the reconstruction of Ukraine all competing for the same pool of engineers, welders, subcontractors, and manual workers, the industry may soon run out of hands.
Andrzej Sterczyński, the president of Unibep, warned in an interview with WNP.PL during the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdańsk that the scale of upcoming projects will stretch resources to the limit. – Unfortunately, resources will likely run out. Just look at a few facts. Over the next ten years, a nuclear power plant in the north of Poland will employ around 11,000 workers, including highly qualified welders. Add the CPK, which may need 11,000 to 13,000 workers. Then throw in the investment boom in energy, roads, railways, and industrial construction – said Sterczyński.
Cooperation instead of competition on the Ukrainian market
Sterczyński argued that Polish companies should not transfer domestic rivalry to Ukraine. – The cake of necessary investment in reconstruction in Ukraine is so big that even though we compete fiercely in Poland, we should integrate there. We will be competing for the same limited human resources, we will support our friends in rebuilding their infrastructure, but we must remember we will compete with construction and technology firms from all over the world – he explained.
Unibep already has a foothold in Ukraine, with one ongoing contract and past projects in Kharkiv and Kyiv. The company sees opportunities in residential and public building construction, as well as in infrastructure and energy in the long run. However, the biggest challenge remains preparation: understanding local laws, building reliable supply chains, and securing the right partners.
Systemic barriers and the education gap
Beyond labor shortages, Sterczyński pointed to a clogged procurement system. Appeals to the National Appeals Chamber (KIO) have surged: around 5,000 in 2025 and already 2,500 in the first quarter of 2026. He cited a case where a dispute over a contract in Starogard Gdański has dragged on for over 18 months. The Polish Association of Construction Employers has proposed changes, including higher appeal fees and procedural reforms such as preclusion of evidence and finality of court rulings.
On the concept of local content, Sterczyński welcomed the discussion but warned it would fail without workers. – We can define local content, create indicators and codes of good practice, but one day it may turn out there is no one to build highways, energy installations, or large industrial projects. The demographic cliff is approaching. In ten years, many experienced engineers and experts will retire. At the same time, some Ukrainians currently working in Poland may return home after the war. The education system is moving too slowly to close the gap – he added.
Sterczyński called for urgent action: a renewed push for dual studies, vocational training, and a smart migration policy. – The labor shortage will not appear in a decade. It may become a barrier much sooner – he concluded.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. mat. pras. Unibep
