“70-80% of refugees returned to Ukraine, went to Germany or somewhere else”
Ukrainian refugees, who have been staying in Poland since the beginning of the full-scale invasion and have been staying there for a long time, are leaving the European country en masse.
During the 1.5 years of war in our country, Ukrainians have managed to adapt in Europe, found housing and work, and are in no hurry to return home until the end of hostilities. At the same time, refugees who had been granted asylum in Poland began to leave the European country en masse.
In her recent report, labor market expert Anna Sudolska emphasized the changing dynamics of the European labor market. She noted that Poles mostly prefer to work in neighboring Germany because of higher earnings. This was also noted by Ukrainians who are also looking for work.
Hanna Sudolska says that recently the number of jobs for Ukrainian refugees has decreased, including seasonal ones. According to the expert, in 2022, “the staffing problems of hotels and restaurateurs were solved by the influx of female refugees from Ukraine.” But this year, Ukrainians are going to other European countries where they can get better-paid jobs, or they are simply returning home to Ukraine.
“Today we see that 70-80% of these people have not returned to work. Most likely, they returned to Ukraine, went to Germany or somewhere else to work,” summarizes Sudolska.
The Polish Social Insurance Institution emphasized that assistance to Ukrainian refugees has become a priority, given the growing number of migrants. In this regard, the authorities have warned of the need for businesses to create an environment that would encourage Ukrainians to stay in Poland.
In particular, it is necessary to introduce intensive training programs and improve working conditions, taking into account common demographic patterns.
