Poland Expands Global Search for Workers as Ukrainian Labor Pool Shrinks

Poland's Shrinking Labor Migration Potential

According to ХВИЛЯ: Poland is experiencing a decline in the potential for labor migration from Ukraine and is now compelled to recruit workers from other nations to meet its target for the foreign workforce share by 2030. As of mid-2025, over 1.1 million foreigners were officially employed in Poland, accounting for 6.7% of the total workforce. Ukrainians, who still form a significant portion of foreign workers, numbered 741 thousand, representing 67% of all foreigners in the country. This reliance on Ukrainian labor has been a cornerstone of Poland's recent economic growth.

Ambitious Targets and New Strategies

The Polish government has set a goal to increase the foreign labor share to 12% by 2030, a figure still below Germany's current level of over 15%. To achieve this, Poland needs to attract approximately 800,000 new foreign workers over the next five years. The labor market must absorb 125,000 to 130,000 foreign nationals annually to sustain GDP growth rates.

Consequently, Poland is now actively recruiting from more than 150 countries worldwide. The country is shifting its approach from a model of 'temporary earnings' towards the full-scale integration of migrants into society. The employment rate among working-age Ukrainian refugees in Poland has also risen to 70%, up from 65% in 2022, underscoring their growing role in the Polish labor market.

This evolving situation highlights the profound impact Ukrainian migrants have had on the Polish economy and underscores the necessity for labor migration policy to adapt to changing market demands. Poland's strategy now focuses not only on attracting new workers but also on better integrating existing migrants, which could enhance social stability and foster further economic development.