After the war concludes, a significant portion of Ukrainians currently working in Poland do not plan to return home. The main reasons cited are higher salaries, stable jobs, and the possibility of legalizing their stay. This is reported by inPoland, referencing the study "Barometer of the Polish Labor Market."
Most Ukrainians want to live in Ukraine after the war
According to the survey results, 88% of Ukrainians stated that they plan to remain in Ukraine after the war ends. Only 8% of respondents consider leaving the country for economic reasons.
At the same time, the study showed a significant difference between age groups. Among youth aged 18-35, 14% of those surveyed are thinking about possible emigration, while among people over 50, only 3%.
Men are more likely to consider moving abroad than women. 12% of men and 5% of women reported potential emigration.
Some Ukrainians in Poland do not plan to return home
A different situation is observed among Ukrainians already working in Poland.
The survey revealed:
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38% do not plan to return to Ukraine.
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17% want to return immediately after the war.
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16% plan to return within 1-2 years.
Experts believe that the first two years after the war concludes will be crucial for whether Ukrainians will remain working abroad long-term.
Why Ukrainians choose to work in Poland
The main reasons why Ukrainians want to stay in Poland are economic factors.
Respondents most frequently mentioned:
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Higher wages – 54%.
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Stable employment contracts – 33%.
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Legalization of stay – 33%.
Additionally, among the important factors, Ukrainians note social guarantees, opportunities for professional development, and housing support.
If you are interested in working in Poland, we recommend checking out 350,000 job listings on the Layboard portal.
Poland remains the main labor market for Ukrainians
Since the start of full-scale war, Poland has become the primary country of employment for Ukrainians in Europe.
In recent years, the Polish labor market has largely adapted to the large number of workers from Ukraine, and local businesses increasingly compete for Ukrainian specialists.
It should be noted that the situation in the Polish labor market is deteriorating, which may complicate job searching for Ukrainians as early as 2026.