Ukrainians in Poland contributed approximately 15.21 billion zlotys (about $4 billion) to the state budget in 2024, far exceeding the financial aid they received, according to a recent report by Poland’s National Development Bank.
The “Family 800 Plus” child benefit program allocated 2.8 billion zlotys (around $727 million) to Ukrainian migrants and refugees. This means that for every 1 zloty ($0.26) they received in aid, they contributed about 5.4 zlotys ($1.40) in taxes and social security.
By the end of 2024, an estimated 1.5 million Ukrainians were living in Poland, accounting for about 5% of the country’s workforce. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in 2014, migration from Ukraine has played an impoortant role in supporting Poland’s economy, contributing between 0.5% and 2.4% to annual GDP growth.
The report’s authors note that multiple factors explain this positive impact. The arrival of around 1.5 million people has boosted demand, as migrants spend their earnings in Poland. Their presence has also enlarged the labor force, helping businesses fill vacancies in understaffed sectors.
Poland’s labor market has faced strong demand for workers over the past decade, with rapid economic growth—the fastest in the European Union—and a record-low unemployment rate making it easier to integrate Ukrainian workers.
Currently, the employment rate among Ukrainians in Poland stands at 78%, significantly higher than the national rate of 56% for Poles aged 15 and older. However, it varies depending on whether they arrived before or after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
In the past three years, up to 80% of new Ukrainian arrivals have been women, who often face employment barriers due to caregiving responsibilities. Prior to 2022, up to 60% of Ukrainian migrants were men, many of whom joined the workforce more quickly.
Following the outbreak of the full-scale war, an estimated 880,000 Ukrainians left Poland within the first few weeks, including 60,000 to 80,000 men who returned to join the Ukrainian army.
A recent Polish Labor Market Barometer report by the employment agency Personnel Service shows that Poland remains the top destination for Ukrainian labor migrants. Among those who returned to Ukraine, 43% plan to go back to Poland for work, while 10% say they would like to settle there permanently.
According to Krzysztof Inglot, a labor market expert and founder of Personnel Service, up to one million Ukrainians could move to Poland for work if Kyiv were to accept a ceasefire with Russia under unfavorable terms.
“Ukrainians remain the first choice for Polish employers when hiring foreign workers, thanks to cultural and linguistic proximity,” he said.
In addition to employment, Ukrainian migrants contribute to Poland’s economy through entrepreneurship. In 2024 alone, Ukrainians founded 12% of newly registered businesses. Between 2022 and 2024, they established 77,700 sole proprietorships, making up 9% of all new such businesses in that period.