Only 11% of Ukrainians in Poland feel integrated: implications for the labor market
9 October 19:49
Most Ukrainians currently living in Poland consider their stay to be temporary. This is reported by in poland, "Komersant Ukrainian".
- Only 11% feel fully integrated.
- 17.9% plan to return to Ukraine as soon as the opportunity arises.
- 45.3% are uncertain about the future and are waiting for the situation to develop.
- 13.2% are ready to stay permanently if conditions are favorable.
The survey was conducted by Gremi Personal.
Barriers to integration
Ukrainians name the main problems:
- Social isolation – almost half of the respondents rarely or never communicate with Poles outside of work.
- Prejudice – 69% reported cases of disrespect.
Experts emphasize that without a sense of stability and belonging to society, Ukrainian workers may look for other countries to live and work in.
Implications for the Polish economy
Ukrainians make up the largest group of foreign workers in Poland:
- At the end of 2022, 746 thousand were registered in the ZUS social insurance system.
- The main areas of employment are manufacturing, construction, industrial processing, transportation, logistics, and agriculture.
The loss of some of these personnel can lead to:
- a decline in production,
- labor shortages,
- price increases,
- decrease in domestic consumption and tax revenues.
Competition with other countries
Ukrainians are increasingly considering moving to other countries:
- Canada, Spain, and Portugal are attracted by friendly migration policies.
- Germany and the United Kingdom – by the high level of social benefits.
If Poland does not change its approach to integration, the country risks losing a significant portion of its workforce and facing economic problems.
The situation shows that Poland’s economic stability is increasingly dependent on the effective integration of Ukrainian migrants. Without support and inclusion in society, there is a risk of a large-scale outflow of personnel, which could seriously undermine key sectors of the economy.
