A new study by the Polish Economic Institute (PIE) shows the high level of integration of Ukrainian immigrants in Poland and their significant role in the country’s economy. According to analysts, about 40% of adult Ukrainian citizens have a high or very high probability of staying in Poland permanently. At the same time, the level of participation of Ukrainians in the labor force is 75-85%, which is higher than among Poles themselves.
As of today, more than 1.5 million Ukrainian immigrants live legally in Poland. The highest probability of staying is demonstrated by relatively young people who have lived in Poland for more than four years — even before the escalation of the war in Ukraine.
The study also shows that economic stability is not a determining factor in the decision to stay in the country. Half of Ukrainian immigrants are in a transitional period and remain in Poland mainly due to work or lack of alternatives. At the same time, the strongest influence on long-term plans is the identity dimension – a sense of belonging to society, which correlates with the decision to stay more than four times stronger than purely economic factors.
PIE analysts warn that the possible outflow of Ukrainian workers could have serious consequences for the Polish labor market. This is a potential exit of up to 650 thousand working immigrants, including those employed in industry, construction, the service sector and logistics.
