Before the 2022 war, over 1 million Ukrainians lived legally in Poland, but Russia’s invasion brought around 1.5 million new Ukrainian refugees. By September 2023, 970,000 Ukrainian refugees remained in Poland under temporary protection. This paper analyzes data from a 2022 survey comparing pre-war and forced Ukrainian migrants to understand how to support the economic integration of the latter. The two groups differ in gender, age, family status, employment-seeking methods, and work aspirations. Despite 66% of respondents having tertiary education, only 30% of refugees spoke Polish, highlighting the need for language training. The study recommends providing language courses and employment support to help refugees find jobs matching their qualifications.
Survey results show that recent refugees are mainly highly educated women with children, unlike pre-war Ukrainian migrants, who were primarily economic workers in lower-skilled jobs. Poland’s 2022 Act introduced long-term integration support, but implementation remains a challenge. The study supports migration self-selection theory, showing that economic migrants and refugees experience different labor market trajectories. Language courses are widely accepted, but full economic integration of Ukrainian refugees faces public resistance. Some refugees are moving to Germany, likely due to better wages and welfare, rather than safety concerns. To foster integration, Poland needs national and local strategies to inform society about refugees’ contributions and encourage businesses to hire them.
