Ukrainians' Standard of Living in Poland Is Rising: Wages Grow, Stable Jobs Become More Plentiful

The level of integration of Ukrainians in Poland has been rising for the third consecutive year. A new study by the National Bank of Poland (NBP), conducted among 4,000 Ukrainians across all voivodeships, confirms: migrants are becoming more financially independent, more often finding stable employment, and less frequently planning to return to Ukraine.

The analytical centre of the international recruitment company Gremi Personal has reviewed the key findings of the study.

Ukrainian wages are growing at the pace of the Polish economy

The average wage of Ukrainian workers in Poland is increasing at a rate close to the overall dynamics of the country's economy. The highest incomes are traditionally enjoyed by specialists in the fields of:

• IT
• construction
• transport and logistics

At the same time, a significant gender pay gap remains: Ukrainian men earn considerably more in Poland than women — this imbalance is more pronounced than the average on the Polish labour market.

More stable employment — less unemployment

Ukrainians are feeling increasingly confident in the Polish labour market

• the share of people with stable, long-term employment has grown;
• unemployment among refugees has decreased significantly;
• Ukrainians are less and less willing to accept unskilled positions.

In 2025, Ukrainians live primarily on income earned in Poland:

• 92% of pre-war migrants' income comes from work in Poland,
• 78% of refugees' income — also from working locally.

However, around 36% of refugees are still working below their qualification level.

"The fact that a significant share of Ukrainian refugees continues to work outside their area of expertise represents a loss of human capital. These are people with real experience and potential who are currently not making full use of it. When a Ukrainian has the opportunity to work in their professional field, their economic activity and level of integration rise sharply," notes Tomasz Bogdewicz, CEO of Gremi Personal.

Housing: Ukrainians remain self-sufficient

Ukrainians are increasingly less reliant on state or charitable housing assistance:

• 81% fully provide for their own housing independently
• 72% — rent accommodation
• 9% — are buying property.

Collective centres are now home mostly to people aged 45+.

Better language skills and changes in family structure

The level of language adaptation has improved significantly:

• 63% of Ukrainians speak Polish fluently or well
• only 4% have no knowledge of the language at all.

Over the past three years, the share of Ukrainians living in Poland with a partner has increased. Among refugees, conversely, the number of families with children has decreased.

Remittances to Ukraine are declining

The NBP records a steady decline in the volume of remittances to Ukraine — more and more Ukrainians are spending a greater part of their earnings in Poland, which contributes to deeper economic integration.

Plans for the future: who wants to stay in Poland permanently

In 2025, Ukrainians' intentions are as follows:

• 51% of pre-war migrants want to remain in Poland permanently
• among refugees, that figure stands at 24%
• 56% of refugees and 37% of war migrants have no firm plans regarding return or relocation.

The highest proportion of those who see their future in Poland live in the western voivodeships. The lowest — in Kuyavian-Pomeranian and Silesian voivodeships.

Overall, Ukrainians in Poland continue to integrate successfully: wages are rising, the share of stable employment is growing, language proficiency and day-to-day independence are improving. More and more people view Poland as a country for long-term residence — and this trend is only strengthening.