Integration of immigrants from Ukraine

Currently, over 1.5 million immigrants from Ukraine (children and adults) are legally residing in Poland. Approximately 75-85% of adults are economically active. The high level of professional activity among immigrants means that their integration is progressing fastest in economic terms, but much slower in cultural, social, and identity terms.

• The largest group (39%) mainly consists of men employed in simple jobs and in professions requiring medium qualifications, the majority of whom arrived in Poland after the escalation of the war in 2022. A smaller group (30%) consists exclusively of young women who came to Poland after the escalation of the war. They mainly work in services (gastronomy, trade, healthcare, other services) and education. The third group (16%) consists of unemployed individuals – 2/3 of whom are job seekers, while 1/3 are not professionally active. This group mainly includes women who have been living in Poland for no longer than 4 years. The last group (15%) consists of relatively young individuals who have been in Poland for more than 4 years. This group is dominated by working men performing both simple and medium-skilled jobs, as well as jobs in professions requiring high qualifications. Such a classification of the immigrant population helps to better understand the dynamic nature of the process of 'entry' into the receiving society.

• According to PIE estimates, for 4 out of 10 adult Ukrainians, there is a high probability of staying in Poland permanently. This probability increases with greater integration with Poland, with identity and socio-political integration factors having the most significant influence on the decision to settle in Poland.