It is nearly impossible for Ukrainians over 55 to find work in Poland

In Poland, there is increasing talk about the problem of employment of foreigners aged 55 and over. Although the workforce in the country shrinks by more than 100,000 people each year, employers still prefer younger candidates, making it increasingly difficult for older workers, especially Ukrainians, to find jobs. This is reported by In Poland.

What share of foreigners aged 55+ work and where

By the end of 2024, over 1 million foreigners were employed in Poland, and only 8% were people aged 55 and above - approximately 80,000 individuals. Most of them are Ukrainians and Belarusians, along with workers from Georgia, India, and Vietnam.

Older representatives most often find work in the fields of:

• transport (experienced drivers)
• cleaning and care (mostly migrant women)
• industry (welders, electricians, process operators).

Why employers reject older candidates

In many labor markets, there are practically no foreigners aged 55+. The reasons are not a lack of skills but rather prejudice. It is believed that older people work slower, are less resilient, and have more difficulty adapting. Moreover, there are often:

• language barriers
• cultural and psychological misunderstandings in teams.

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Labor market expert Vitaliy Belenets also confirms that this is a systemic problem:

«Ukrainians aged 55+ have serious experience, but Polish employers often ignore this resource. In many companies, decisions are made by inertia - hiring younger people because it is more familiar. However, there is a sharp deficit of responsible personnel in the market, and it is older workers who can fill this gap,» Belenets noted.

He adds that older workers change jobs less frequently, have more stable motivation, and demonstrate a higher level of discipline.

In Poland, over 25% of the population is over 60 years old, and the number of working-age people is decreasing rapidly each year. According to experts, the country needs systemic measures: faster recognition of foreigners' diplomas, language courses for older individuals, and promoting the idea of employing those aged 55+ among employers.