In Poland, there is a shortage of workers due to the decrease in the number of Ukrainians
Recently, Poland has faced a serious problem – a significant shortage of labor force. One of the main reasons for this phenomenon was the decrease in the migration of Ukrainians, who previously made up a significant part of foreign workers in the country. The publication Rzeczpospolita draws attention to the fact that the decrease in the number of Ukrainian migrants creates significant challenges for the Polish economy, in particular in the field of employment.
Problems with hiring employees
With each quarter, Polish companies increasingly face difficulties when hiring new employees. The number of vacancies in various sectors of the economy is constantly growing. This is especially noticeable in such sectors as construction, production, transport and logistics, where many migrants from Ukraine and other countries have traditionally worked. Labor shortages in these industries lead to lower productivity and higher costs of doing business.
Economic forecasts and migration policy
Economists predict further complication of the hiring situation in Poland. They note that the potential of immigration from countries with a similar cultural past, such as Ukraine and Belarus, is gradually running out. In addition, the Polish government may tighten migration policy, which will further complicate the inflow of labor from more distant countries. This could be a serious blow to the Polish labor market, especially in conditions where the demographic situation in the country also contributes to an increase in the labor shortage.
Demographic challenges
Demographic trends in Poland also play an important role in shaping labor shortages. The decrease in the number of the working population and the increase in the share of elderly people create additional pressure on the labor market. This means that the need for foreign workers will only grow in the future. However, the main flow of Ukrainian refugees, which used to go to Poland, is now going to Germany. This is due to the fact that in Germany the aid for refugees and the level of wages are much higher than in Poland. Many Ukrainians who used to live in Poland also move to Germany for the same reasons.
Labor force statistics
According to data for February 2024, there were more than one million foreigners in Poland. They made up 6.6% of the total number of workers in the country. The largest share of foreign workers in Poland was Ukrainians. According to the data of the General Directorate of Statistics, at the end of February 2024, 1,004,600 foreigners worked in Poland, of which 384,200 worked under subcontracts and related contracts. The majority of foreign workers are men, although their share decreased from 64.7% in January 2022 to 59.5% in February 2024.
Ukrainian workers in Poland
The majority of foreigners working in Poland came from Ukraine. At the end of February 2024, there were 690,200 of them. The number of Ukrainian workers decreased by 4.6% compared to January 2022 and amounted to 68.7% at the end of February 2024. This decrease reflects the general trend of decreasing migration from Ukraine to Poland, which creates additional challenges for the Polish economy.
Given the current demographic trends and the possible strengthening of the migration policy, Poland will have to look for new ways to attract the workforce. One of the possible solutions could be the activation of programs to attract workers from other countries, as well as the creation of more attractive conditions for foreign workers. At the same time, it is also necessary to develop internal resources, in particular, to stimulate the activation of labor activity among the local population and to improve working conditions in the most vulnerable industries.
