Since the war in Ukraine escalated in 2022, millions of Ukrainians have naturally moved to Poland in search of safety and better working conditions. Their presence has greatly affected Poland’s economy over the past few years since the war started. Below is a closer look at how Ukrainian workers have changed things in Poland.
1. Filling Labour Shortages and Gaps
Before the influx of Ukrainian workers, many Polish companies were facing worker shortages in industries such as construction, agriculture, and manufacturing. Now, with the rapid increase of the workforce, Ukrainians have stepped in to fill these gaps.
Reports indicate that employers note their strong work ethic and willingness to take on more difficult roles. From this, Ukrainian workers have played a key role in Poland’s economy since 2022. Daniel Kral’s X post from May 2023 notes that up to 80% of Polish companies employ Ukrainians, with some companies having Ukrainians make up 10-20% of their workforce. This aligns with reports suggesting their labour supply has been crucial for sectors like construction and manufacturing.
2. Supporting Long-Term Growth
Beyond filling immediate job vacancies, Ukrainians are bringing valuable skills to the table that will help with long-term growth. Some have backgrounds in IT, healthcare, or education, boosting innovation and supporting Poland’s pivot toward higher-value industries. Over time, their expertise is likely to enhance Poland’s competitiveness on the European and World stage.
Some have suggested that better recognition of Ukrainian credentials could lead to even greater economic benefits. Ivo Sole Lehmann’s X post from January 2025 explains how Poland has seamlessly integrated their skills when given effective credential recognition. This aligns with a recent Deloitte study suggesting integration could boost GDP by up to 3.5% in 2025.
3. Boosting Consumer Spending
Slightly more overlooked is that new immigrants bring increased spending, which helps the economy. They can support local businesses by raising the demand for many goods (meaning companies make more products). From corner stores to hair salons, all small businesses stand to benefit from an increase in their customer base.
4. Tax Contributions and Social Impact
With the increase in spending comes more tax revenue for the government. These taxes are used for public services like healthcare and education, further benefiting Poland. However, we should mention that the influx of newcomers also brings new challenges to the country, like higher demand for housing and these same social services. Taxes from legal employment are the best means to recoup these costs. To better help incoming Ukrainians integrate, experts suggest providing language classes and integration classes. Which we have seen in places like Krakow.
5. Shifts in Wages and Workplace Culture
It’s also true that an increase in population means a larger workforce and competitive wages. Some critics argue that large influxes of new immigrants can slow wage growth for some positions. However, skilled Ukrainian workers, particularly in IT, have been adding valuable expertise to many companies. Alicja Ptak’s X post from 2022 mentions thousands of IT workers relocating to Poland, allowing businesses to thrive.
Challenges and Future Outlook
As we’ve seen, there are both positives and negatives with an increase in Ukrainian refugees. Overall, the effect has been positive, but there are hurdles Poland now faces. Housing demand, especially in urban areas, has surged, rapidly increasing prices. There are also language barriers to address, which are causing a mismatch between jobs and professional backgrounds, lowering the effectiveness of immigrants to add to the economy. And finally, there’s simply the adjustment period – newcomers need time, resources, and help to adjust to life in Poland.
Although Verita HR doesn’t actively engage with Ukrainian candidates outside of the tech and finance sector, our recruiters are trained on challenges in the market. When the war in Ukraine broke out, our leadership team at Verita HR spent considerable time and effort in helping the teams acclimatize to an active war zone in their neighbouring country. As members of ASPIRE, the Association of Business Services and IT companies in Krakow, it is a huge priviledge to be engaged in initiatives to help Ukraine and Ukrainians.
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