Research by Gdańsk University of Technology and Gremi Analytical Centre

Before 24 February 2022, employing Ukrainians in Poland involved more bureaucratic complexity than it does today — according to a study conducted by the Faculty of Management at Gdańsk University of Technology and Gremi Personal. To date, only the way of finding work has fundamentally changed.

60% of respondents said they have no difficulty finding employment. A significant share of Ukrainians learn about job offers online — that is how more than 30% of respondents found out about opportunities.

The survey shows that labour migration before the war (2006–2020) was relatively straightforward — those looking for work either arrived with a job already secured in Ukraine or found employment in Poland fairly quickly.

1 in 3 Ukrainians learned about job opportunities online, meaning the way workers are recruited has changed fundamentally. Only 21% of workers found jobs through recruitment agencies. Is this the end of employment agencies?

We are in the 21st century, so it comes as no surprise that Ukrainian citizens search for jobs this way. Ukrainians are a very family-oriented and loyal nation — they feel a strong sense of community abroad, as evidenced by the war that has now been going on for more than a year. All they need today is WhatsApp, Telegram or another online messaging platform. Ukrainians also continue to rely on word-of-mouth referrals — if someone from their family or close social circle has found a good job in terms of conditions and pay, they recommend others or even help them relocate. Importantly, Ukrainians search for jobs in Ukrainian or Russian. Could this signal the end of employment agencies? I doubt it, because while it is relatively easy to find work today, one still needs to fulfil bureaucratic requirements and know Polish in order to legalise one's status in accordance with the law — which is why international employment agencies will always have an advantage. — comments Anna Dżobolda, Director of the International Recruitment Department at Gremi Personal. — The survey also showed that only 1.75% of respondents spent a long time looking for work. Had they used our services, they would have had no problems at all. — Dżobolda adds.

The full research report is available at: https://gremi-personal.com/biuletyn-analityczny-zatrudnienie-obywateli-ukrainy/