The Gremi Personal Analytical Center has released the results of a comprehensive study conducted in Poland’s seven largest cities: Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław, Gdańsk, Poznań, Łódź, and Szczecin. Conducted between May 5 and June 5, 2025, the study surveyed 1,560 Ukrainian citizens living in Poland using both online and offline questionnaires. The maximum statistical margin of error was no more than 2.5%.
The study explored a wide range of topics, including identity, integration and discrimination experiences, relationships with Poles outside of work, media portrayals of Ukrainians, trust in institutions, and motivations for staying in or returning to Ukraine. A key focus was what makes Poland feel like “home” to Ukrainians.
Although 80% of respondents reported stable employment and the potential for long-term residence, only 11% said they felt fully integrated. Another 34% described themselves as “partially rooted.” Importantly, Ukrainians indicated that the main barrier to integration is not language or documentation, but a feeling of social rejection. Nearly half said they never or almost never interact with Poles outside of work, and as many as 69% reported experiencing prejudice or being dismissed.
Only 18% of respondents felt that the media presents Ukrainians in a positive light. About 32% found media portrayals balanced, while 26% described them as stereotypical. This lack of nuanced representation contributes to a sense of exclusion and declining trust in public and social institutions.
When asked about their future, 45.3% of respondents said they were unsure whether they would remain in Poland—this decision depends on how the situation develops. Some 17.9% intend to return to Ukraine once it is safe, while 10.4% consider their stay in Poland to be temporary. Just 13.2% plan to settle permanently, provided stability continues.
As for what makes Poland feel like “home,” respondents most often cited a sense of stability (30.7%), being able to live with family (23.6%), and having a circle of friends and familiar surroundings (15.1%). For a smaller group (10.6%), meaningful employment or feeling accepted was essential. Even fewer (9.5%) pointed to access to services or healthcare.
“This shows that Ukrainians don’t expect privileges or citizenship in order to consider Poland their home,” said Damian Guzman, Deputy General Director of Gremi Personal. “They need stability, a sense of acceptance, and the right to be part of society—not just as workers, but as neighbors, customers, and parents. If hundreds of thousands of people who currently work, raise children, and pay taxes in Poland don’t feel welcome, they won’t wait around. Some may not return to Ukraine, but instead seek a more open society elsewhere in the European Union. For Poland, that would mean measurable losses, especially given the country’s already severe labor shortage.”
The study reveals a stark mismatch between the presence of Ukrainians in the economy and their social standing. Ukrainians contribute significantly to Poland’s GDP—adding 2.7% in 2024 alone—and support local budgets, yet they are still often seen as “outsiders” in public discourse and media. The myth that migrants “take jobs” or “abuse the system” resurfaces cyclically, particularly during elections or times of crisis.
A large-scale departure of Ukrainians from Poland—driven by lack of social acceptance—could cause major disruptions in the labor market. Rising service costs, reduced competitiveness, and labor shortages are just a few of the potential consequences.
Source: Manager+ – Ukrainians in Poland: A divide between work and society
