In 2024, Ukrainian refugees significantly bolstered Poland’s economy. According to estimates, their net contribution to the country’s gross domestic product reached 2.7%, while the employment rate among Ukrainians rose from 61% to 69% in just one year.
This is reported by Finway
Contribution of Ukrainian Refugees to Poland’s GDP
By the end of 2024, the total contribution of refugees from Ukraine to Poland’s GDP amounted to approximately 100 billion zlotys. This is eight times greater than the financial aid Poland provided to Ukraine over three years of war. The economic effect was made possible by the swift opening of the Polish labor market, which allowed Ukrainians to integrate, find jobs, and support themselves and their families independently.
Ukrainians work not only as employees but also as entrepreneurs and active consumers, stimulating domestic demand and contributing to labor productivity growth. Currently, 69% of working-age refugees are employed, which is nearly equal to the employment rate among Poles (75%).
“They did not take jobs; they created new ones. The economy did not lose — on the contrary, productivity increased, and employment rose.”
As a result, the Polish economy not only did not suffer losses but also received an additional impetus for development.
Volumes of Aid, Tax Revenues, and New Employment Regulations
Poland’s expenditures to support Ukrainians in various years were as follows:
- 2022 — €2.17 billion in aid plus €2.53 billion in social payments;
- 2023 — €1.84 billion;
- 2024–2025 (Q1) — €0.62 billion.
In total, this amounts to €7.2 billion for domestic support and €2.12 billion for military and humanitarian aid, totaling €9.32 billion. This sum represents only 12.3% of the economic benefit that refugees brought to Poland. In fact, the country received eight times more than it invested.
The total GDP generated by Ukrainians in Poland exceeds all volumes of EU aid to Ukraine over three years of war. The additional economic gain for Poland from the presence of Ukrainians amounted to over €11.15 billion beyond the provided support.
Significant contributions to the Polish budget come from taxes paid by Ukrainian citizens — nearly 1.65 billion zlotys.
The presence of Ukrainians has helped the Polish economy reach a higher level of development. Research data clearly demonstrate that refugees are not just recipients of aid but actively contribute to economic growth. Additional language courses for professionals and the easing of professional restrictions allow even more Ukrainians to integrate into the labor market and create high added value.
At the same time, starting June 1, new regulations on the employment of foreigners will come into effect in Poland: districts will have the right to independently formulate lists of professions to which access for foreigners is temporarily suspended. This may apply to specific specialties as well as to limiting the total number of permits issued.