Ukraine's Workforce in Poland Is Shrinking at a Rapid Pace

Fewer Ukrainians Are Working in Poland

According to Главком: Poland is experiencing a steady decline in the number of Ukrainian workers. Some of these labor migrants are returning home, while others are moving to Western Europe in search of higher wages. As a result, Polish employers are now looking to replace Ukrainian staff with workers from Asia and South America. As of September 2024, roughly 779,000 Ukrainians were officially employed in Poland, making them the largest group of foreign workers in the country.

Poland’s total foreign workforce has surpassed 1.17 million people-nearly six times higher than a decade ago. This shift comes alongside a notable increase in workers from Nepal and India. Additionally, around 30,000 citizens from Colombia and the Philippines are now employed in Poland.

Demand for Labor and New Migrant Workers

In the first half of 2024, Polish authorities issued over 173,000 work permits, the majority of which went to nationals from outside Europe. The highest demand continues to be for workers in:

• warehouses
• manufacturing plants
• equipment operation
• manual labor roles

Positions once filled by Ukrainians are now increasingly being taken by people from other countries.

Labor market expert Michał Solecki notes: 'Polish employers are already actively seeking replacements for Ukrainian workers among citizens of Asian and South American nations.'

He also emphasizes that 'Poland's labor market is adapting relatively quickly to these changes and is gradually filling staffing gaps with new migrant workers.'

Despite the outflow of Ukrainians, they remain a significant part of Poland’s workforce. However, growing competition from other nationalities could dramatically reshape the landscape.

The shrinking number of Ukrainian labor migrants in Poland reflects broader shifts in global labor flows and economic conditions. The appeal of Western European countries like Germany and France may continue to influence migration patterns from Ukraine. At the same time, the Polish labor market’s ability to adapt could attract new workers from other regions, ensuring short-term stability.