Ukrainian labor migrants remain a key driving force in the Polish labor market. As of early 2026, citizens of Ukraine occupy over 67% of all vacancies in the manual labor sector, significantly impacting the functioning of Poland’s basic economic sectors.
This is reported by Finway
Dynamics of Demand for Manual Labor
Over the past year, the strongest growth in demand for workers has been observed in sectors requiring significant physical effort. Notably, there has been a recorded increase in logistics, where the number of job openings rose by 10,000 or 5.6%. In the food industry, demand increased by 7,700 individuals (1.95%), while in the hotel and restaurant business (HoReCa), it rose by 2,700 workers (1.6%).
At the same time, sectors requiring high qualifications and specialized training are experiencing a decline in employment. Specifically, in engineering, the number of workers decreased by 1.3% (a loss of 7,300 individuals). A similar negative trend is observed in the automotive industry and the production of electrical appliances.
The Role of Ukrainian Workers in the Polish Economy
According to Yevhen Kirichenko, founder of Gremi Personal, the shortage of manual laborers in Poland is exacerbated by the fact that local youth and skilled specialists are increasingly opting out of jobs related to manual labor.
“Poles are increasingly refusing manual work in favor of office or intellectual employment. This makes labor migrants, primarily Ukrainians, an indispensable workforce. Without their involvement, a significant portion of Polish enterprises would be forced to drastically reduce production volumes or cease operations altogether,” emphasizes Kirichenko.
Analysts predict that in 2026, the Polish economy’s dependence on Ukrainian workers and the level of demand for manual labor will continue to grow. This may lead to competition between Polish and Ukrainian employers for skilled labor, presenting a new challenge for both countries.
It is worth noting that the Ukrainian labor market continues to show a trend of increasing wages in the field of skilled trades, including painters, assemblers, foremen, bricklayers, and others.