The Ukrainian diaspora in Poland has been demonstrating stable improvement in integration for the third consecutive year. The latest study by the National Bank of Poland (NBP), which surveyed four thousand Ukrainians across all regions of the country, confirms positive trends in employment, income, language adaptation, and housing independence.
This is reported by Finway
Income Growth and Labor Market Changes
According to the study, the average salary of Ukrainians in Poland continues to rise and aligns with the overall dynamics of the Polish economy. The best financial indicators are recorded in the IT, construction, and transport sectors. However, the gap between the incomes of men and women from Ukraine remains more significant than the national average.
Improvements are also evident in the labor market: more Ukrainians have stable jobs, the unemployment rate among refugees is decreasing, and the number of those accepting unskilled positions is declining. By 2025, 92% of pre-war migrants’ incomes and 78% of refugees’ incomes will come from earnings within Poland. Nevertheless, about 36% of refugees continue to work outside their qualifications.
“The fact that a significant portion of Ukrainian refugees in Poland continues to work in positions that do not match their qualifications indicates substantial losses in human capital. These are individuals with real professional experience, qualifications, and potential that is currently not being fully utilized. Once a person has the opportunity to work in their field, their economic activity and engagement in the life of the country increase rapidly,” says Tomasz Bogdovich, CEO of Gremi Personal.
Housing Independence, Language Adaptation, and Family Structure
The level of independence among Ukrainians in addressing housing issues has also increased: 81% of immigrants secure their own housing without external assistance, with 72% renting and 9% purchasing property. People over 45 years old predominantly remain in collective centers.
Indicators of language integration have significantly improved: 63% of respondents speak Polish well or fluently, while only 4% do not know it at all. Over three years, there have also been changes in family structure: the share of Ukrainians living in Poland with partners has increased, while among refugees, the number of families with children has decreased.
The NBP reports a decrease in the volume of money transfers to Ukraine, as Ukrainians are increasingly spending their incomes on living in Poland.
Regarding future plans, 51% of pre-war immigrants and 24% of refugees expressed a desire to stay in Poland permanently. At the same time, a significant portion—56% of refugees and 37% of pre-war migrants—have not yet determined their future plans. The highest interest in staying is found in western Poland, while the least is in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian and Silesian voivodeships.