News

In January 2024, the National Bank of Poland presented another report on the living and economic situation of migrants from Ukraine in Poland. The report presents the results of a survey of adult migrants from Ukraine in Poland, conducted between 8 May and 7 July 2023. The key findings discussed further in the report:

1. The demographic structure of migrants from Ukraine residing in Poland has not changed significantly compared to November 2022. Adult migrants from Ukraine are mostly women - about 68% (in the group of pre-war migrants they constituted 55% and in the group of refugees 78%).
2. Migrants are well-educated persons. Polish language skills among refugees have improved.
3. The primary source of livelihood for Ukrainian migrants is work. The economic situation of refugees is more difficult than that of pre-war migrants.
4. Integration of refugee migrants from Ukraine into the Polish labour market is slower than in 2022. The gap between pre-war migrants and refugees on the Polish labour market persists.
5. The wages of immigrants depend more on the industry in Poland and the moment of arrival than on formal education. Relatively the highest salaries are paid to pre-war immigrants as well as refugees working in IT, construction and transport.
6. The presence of family and children in Poland affects the professional activity of refugees. Refugees from Ukraine most often have stable employment when they have no family in Poland or stay in Poland without children.
7. The process of emancipation of refugees is proceeding. The increasing length of stay of refugees in Poland and the changes introduced in 2023 to the regulations significantly restricting the possibility of free stay in places of organized residence offered by the Polish state caused a further increase in the percentage of refugees renting apartments independently from 52% to 68%.
8. Migrants continue to support their loved ones in Ukraine. Those who arrived before the outbreak of the war did not significantly change their propensity to send funds abroad (over 60% of them do so). The percentage of refugees making transfers to Ukraine is almost half that of pre-war migrants.
9. The differences in strategies regarding future stay in Poland between pre-war migrants and refugees remain, although among the latter there has been a slight increase in the percentage of people declaring a longer stay in Poland.
10. Predictions about the end of the war are a key factor influencing refugees’ declarations about their future. Economic factors such as the labour market and housing situation are less important.
11. Despite the ongoing process of adapting migrants from Ukraine to life in Poland, some of them still expect some support from Poland. Pre-war migrants mainly point to easier legalization of stay, access to health care, better service at the office. As far as refugees are concerned, they mainly expect help in finding a job, organising Polish language courses and easier legalisation of their stay. Compared to previous rounds of the survey, the percentage of people waiting for Polish language courses has significantly decreased.
12. The situation of migrants from Ukraine differs slightly from one province to another, especially refugees.

 

 

A full text in Polish is available below:

  Sytuacja ekonomiczna migrantów z Ukrainy w 2023 roku - a full text in Polish