Ukrainians in Poland mostly hold positions that are not in demand among local workers. This concerns sectors where there is a lack of personnel due to harsh conditions or low job prestige. This is reported by InPoland.
As explained by the expert from the Employers of Poland organization, Piotr Rogowiecki, citizens of Ukraine were granted free access to the Polish labor market after the special law was passed in March 2022. To legally stay, it was enough to obtain a PESEL number, and a work permit was not required.
Ukrainians in Poland: Why They Have Taken Unpopular Vacancies
Rogowiecki emphasizes that the claim of supposedly "taking jobs" from Poles is not true. According to him, Ukrainians and other foreigners mainly work in sectors where Poles do not want to work:
- care for the elderly;
- catering;
- hotel and restaurant business;
- physically demanding or low-paid jobs.
The expert underlined that this is a normal process: with the growth of society's wealth, certain professions gradually shift to migrants. Similarly, Poles work in the UK or Germany in similar positions.
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Employment of Ukrainians in Poland: What Will Change After 2026
In September 2025, the President of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, signed amendments to the special law, but the current rules will remain in effect until March 4, 2026. After that, as explained by the head of the President's Office, Zbigniew Bogucki, the same norms will apply to Ukrainians as to other foreigners.
At the same time, the Polish Ministry of Internal Affairs is working on gradually phasing out the special law. Some provisions are planned to be transferred to the Law on the Protection of Foreigners, particularly to retain the PESEL UKR number as proof of legal residence.
Rogowiecki noted,
Commenting on the situation, employment expert Vitaliy Serhiyovych Belenets noted that currently about 80% of Ukrainians work in Poland — the highest percentage in Europe. In comparison, in the Czech Republic, 48% of Ukrainians are employed, while in Germany — only 25%. A mass exodus of Ukrainians, he said, would seriously harm Poland's economy and development potential.
It should be noted that Ukrainians remain one of the most active groups of foreign entrepreneurs in Poland. Last year, Ukrainian citizens registered about 33,000 new companies, which practically accounts for every tenth new business in the country.