How Many Ukrainians in Poland Live on Money from Ukraine?

60% of Ukrainians in Poland did not use money earned in Ukraine over the past year. 27% had their own savings that they spent in Poland. 10% relied on money from family, and 3% worked remotely for Ukrainian employers.

The study was published by the analytical centre of the international recruitment agency Gremi Personal, commissioned by the National Bank of Ukraine. The survey was conducted between March and May of this year, with 1,315 Ukrainians who had taken up employment in Poland taking part.

Those who used money earned in Ukraine over the past 12 months accounted for 40%. Among them, 53% say the amount of their monthly expenses changed, while 47% kept their spending the same.

Among those who changed their spending in Poland, 20% say it was due to finding a job in Poland. 15% admitted they ran out of money earned in Ukraine. 4% lost their remote job in Ukraine, and 4% said their family stopped providing financial support. The largest group — 57% — did not indicate a reason.

"What was your status at the time you started working in Poland?" — this was the final question in the survey.

38% were already employed in Poland, 18% were temporarily unemployed but looking for work, 9% were students or pupils, 3% worked remotely, 2% ran a household, and 26% had another status.

The agency highlights the fact that 60% of Ukrainian citizens are not using money earned in Ukraine. This likely indicates that they have already adapted to life in Poland and, given the ongoing refugee protection programme, are not currently planning to return.

Notably, in March of this year, the agency surveyed Ukrainians about their plans for the future. 43% of Ukrainians in Poland said it was difficult to decide, 19% answered that they plan to stay in Poland. 15% will not return in the next 5 years, 13% will return within half a year, and 10% — within a year.

"We believe that a priority task for Ukraine is to develop a strategy for the return of those 40% of citizens who are still spending their money outside the country. These people have likely not yet had the chance to fully assimilate to their new environment and do not have long-term plans to remain abroad. Ukraine must therefore create conditions that — even amid the war — would incentivise their return, including improving economic opportunities, ensuring an adequate standard of living, and offering development prospects, which in turn will contribute to the overall strengthening of the state", — says Evgeny Kirichenko, founder of the international recruitment agency Gremi Personal