The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland issued a statement assessing the role of Ukrainians in the country's national economy. According to the ministry, in 2024 the employment rate among Ukrainians residing in Poland reached 78%, and their economic activity became one of the factors that helped drive Polish GDP growth by 2.7%. The Foreign Ministry emphasized that behind these figures lie not only employment and tax payments, but also concrete stories of business development and innovation.
Employment Indicators and Contribution to GDP
The key indicator cited by the Polish foreign policy ministry was the share of employed Ukrainians — 78% in 2024. According to the Foreign Ministry's assessment, this figure shows that the Ukrainian community in Poland is integrated into the labor market on a significant scale. It was precisely mass employment, according to the ministry, that became one of the drivers behind the 2.7% increase in Poland's GDP. Thus, official Warsaw links the positive trend in macroeconomic indicators with the presence and labor of Ukrainian citizens.
From Shelter to Business Development
The Polish Foreign Ministry's statement stressed that Ukrainians are "not merely finding shelter in Poland" but are "actively contributing to the development of the Polish economy." The ministry noted that Ukrainians' contribution goes beyond basic employment and tax payments: it includes entrepreneurial and innovative activity. The Foreign Ministry also highlighted the close ties between the two countries and described Ukrainians' contribution as part of the shared future of Poland and Ukraine, thereby positioning the Ukrainian community as a long-term element of the Polish economic model.
Context: Changes in Social Policy
The Foreign Ministry's statement came against the backdrop of a review of the rules for providing assistance to Ukrainian refugees in Poland. From July 1, 2026, free accommodation and meals in collective accommodation centers will be retained only for the most vulnerable categories — in particular, people with disabilities, pregnant women, and some pensioners. This means that a significant portion of Ukrainians who previously received such services have been excluded from free accommodation, further underscoring the authorities' emphasis on economic self-sufficiency and integration through the labor market.
Legislative Response in the Sejm
At the same time, the Polish government acknowledged that the current list of assistance recipients turned out to be too narrow. In connection with this, a bill has been registered in the Sejm proposing to restore benefits for single mothers, low-income pensioners, and family members of vulnerable categories. The document is expected to be reviewed in September 2026. Thus, the economic assessment of Ukrainians' contribution voiced by the Foreign Ministry and the adjustment of social policy form a common context: Warsaw simultaneously emphasizes the economic role of Ukrainians while narrowing, and then partially expanding, the scope of direct social support.
