Poland is experiencing a new economic trend that has a serious impact on Ukrainian migrants — the country is recording an increase in the unemployment rate and a decrease in the number of vacancies in the business sector.
This is reported by Finway
“According to preliminary estimates from the Polish Ministry of Family and Social Policy, at the beginning of 2026, the unemployment curve confidently moved upward. If in December 2025 this figure was 5.7%, by January 2026 it reached 6% (which is 0.6% higher than a year earlier)”.
Official statistics indicate that in January 2026, the unemployment rate was 6%, which is 0.6% higher compared to the same period last year. Just a year ago, in December 2025, this figure was 5.7%. At the same time, the number of officially registered unemployed has increased particularly sharply over the year: if in January 2025 the growth was only 0.1%, by the fourth quarter of 2025 it reached 13%. At the beginning of 2026, this figure stabilized at 11.6%.
Main Reasons for the Increase in Unemployment
Experts explain that the rise in unemployment is due to two factors. First, in June 2025, new legislative norms came into effect in Poland that allowed the unemployed to register at their actual place of residence and simplified the confirmation of readiness for employment. This made the registration process easier, encouraging more people to register. However, the key reason is the actual reduction of jobs in various sectors of the economy.
Which Sectors Have Been Most Affected?
The largest decline in employment is observed in the corporate sector. According to Gremi Personal, in the fourth quarter of 2025, the number of employees in companies decreased by 0.7% year-on-year. The automotive industry and business service centers remain the most vulnerable. These changes are particularly felt by Ukrainian refugees in Poland, as competition for each vacancy increases and employer requirements become stricter.
Additionally, from March 5, Poland changed the rules for Ukrainian refugees, which also affected access to free state healthcare.