Ukrainian citizens have become the foundation of Poland's modern workforce. As of January 2026, 757,700 of our fellow countrymen are officially employed in the country. This figure accounts for almost 68% of all foreigners working in Poland. Data published by the RBC-Ukraine agency, citing a report by the Gremi Personal analytics center, indicates that labor migration has ceased to be a temporary phenomenon.
Structural change in the economy
Experts emphasize that the dependence of the Polish labor market on Ukrainian specialists has already become the norm. Evgeny Kirichenko, founder of Gremi Personal, notes that the presence of over a million foreign workers in the country is not just a reaction to a temporary labor shortage, but a deep structural change in the economy.
"Business has gotten used to working in conditions where normal functioning of production, logistics, construction, the service sector, and agriculture is impossible without foreigners," Kirichenko stated. This means that key sectors of the Polish economy currently cannot function in their usual mode without an influx of labor from Ukraine.
Future competition for personnel
Analysts warn of the long-term consequences of this trend for the entire Central and Eastern European region. Upon the conclusion of military hostilities, Ukraine will face the need to simultaneously restore its economy, implement large-scale infrastructure projects, and compensate for demographic losses.
However, during this same period, Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic, and other countries will experience a need for labor. Experts predict the start of fierce competition for the same category of workers. If a significant portion of Ukrainians continues to choose to work abroad, Ukraine risks facing a critical labor shortage precisely at the moment when they will be needed for the country's reconstruction.
Legislative and market response
While in Ukraine the issue remains at the level of political statements without specific legislative steps, control over the observance of labor rights is tightening in Poland. As of July 8, 2026, enhanced inspections of foreign labor contracts have been introduced in the country.
Now, the labor inspectorate has the right to forcibly convert civil-law agreements into official employment contracts if it is established that the worker is actually performing the functions of a staff employee. In parallel, demand for temporary personnel is growing: the number of corresponding requests from employers increased by 10% in April 2026 alone.
