Ukrainian refugees are becoming more integrated into the Polish labor market, with 69% now employed, according to a new report by Deloitte for the UNHCR. However, challenges remain—most notably language barriers and difficulties in recognizing professional qualifications, especially in regulated fields like medicine and law. While their growing labor force participation has benefited the Polish economy, it has also positively impacted the labor market itself by increasing competition and allowing Poles to specialize in managerial, expert, and technical roles.
Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Poland experienced a large influx of refugees. While over 2 million Ukrainians initially fled to Poland, that number has since dropped to under 1 million (as of February 2025) due to returns and relocations. These refugees are not only employees but also entrepreneurs, contributing visibly to the workforce.
“In the past year, refugee employment has increased from 61% to 69%. Although still slightly below the Polish employment rate, the gap is narrowing,” said Dr. Aleksander Łaszek, head of economic analysis at Deloitte. “The median net salary of refugees has also risen from just over 3,000 PLN to 4,000 PLN. Though there’s still a 15–20% wage gap compared to Polish workers, it’s shrinking.”
The Deloitte–UNHCR report notes that unrestricted labor market access and freedom to choose where to live allowed refugees to seek economic opportunities independently. This, coupled with low unemployment, labor shortages, market flexibility, and cultural proximity, helped Poland avoid a migration crisis.
“On one hand, an influx of over half a million workers could have slowed wage growth for Poles due to increased competition. But on the other hand, the new skills and labor force enabled Polish workers to specialize, become more productive, and move into higher-level roles,” Łaszek explained. “The data shows that wages and employment for Poles have grown faster in regions with more refugees because the labor market adapted.”
A major area of refugee integration is women’s employment. Given that most arrivals fleeing the war were women, some feared they might displace Polish women in traditionally female-dominated professions. However, the data shows otherwise.
“Since 2022, the employment rate of Polish women has continued to grow steadily,” said Łaszek. “This aligns with global trends where refugee inflows actually boost women’s workforce participation. For example, better access to childcare and household support services often makes it easier for local women to work.”
Poland’s refugee employment rate is high compared to other countries and has had a measurable impact on GDP.
“By allowing refugees to work and start businesses, they now generate 2.7% of Poland’s GDP,” noted Kevin Allen, UNHCR Representative in Poland.
While integration has progressed, the report also highlights areas for improvement. Despite being, on average, more highly educated than Poles, only 12% of Ukrainian refugees work in jobs requiring higher education, compared to 37% of Poles. Legal barriers are a key reason.
“Fewer than 20% of refugees speak fluent Polish, yet fluency correlates with a 700 PLN higher monthly net salary and greater tax contributions,” said Łaszek. “Other challenges include legal requirements for citizenship or specific certifications in regulated professions.”
“Many qualified refugees—like doctors, lawyers, and accountants—work as cleaners or in restaurants because those are the jobs available to them,” added Allen. “These individuals are working, paying taxes, and contributing, but we want them to be able to use their full skillsets for even greater economic impact.”
Closing just half of the existing skill and qualification gaps could deliver macroeconomic gains of at least 6 billion PLN annually, the report states. Poland already offers intermediate-level Polish language programs, but reaching fluency will require more investment from both government and the private sector. Vulnerable groups among the refugee population still need targeted support.
“To support integration, we collaborate with local governments and the private sector to organize job fairs,” Allen said. “In the past three years, we’ve held countless events—not just for refugees but also for Polish citizens—connecting them with hundreds of employers and job opportunities in one place.”
Source: ceo.com.pl
