Ukrainian citizens are experiencing rising living costs in Poland

December 18, 2023

Ukrainian citizens are experiencing rising living costs in Poland

By the end of 2023, 75% of temporary workers from Ukraine declared satisfaction with their work in our country, indicating a decrease of 4 percentage points compared to 2022 and 10 percentage points compared to 2021. Despite the high cost of living in Poland, 56% of respondents still send at least a small portion of their earnings back to their families in their homeland. Unfortunately, Ukrainian workers are not willing to relocate to another Polish city, even if they were to receive a better job offer – as stated by 59% of the respondents.

Ukrainian citizens are becoming less satisfied with work in Poland

The level of satisfaction with work and life in Poland for temporary workers from Ukraine has changed quite dynamically over the past few years. Since 2017, there has been a downward trend in job satisfaction in Poland – at that time, the indicator reached its maximum (94%). Then, in 2021, there was a significant increase in job satisfaction in our country. It can be assumed that foreigners, after the challenging times of the pandemic, once again appreciated the freedom of choice and the opportunity to work in Poland.

Tomasz Dudek:

"Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine in 2022, we have observed a downward trend in this aspect again. By the end of 2023, 75% of the surveyed individuals declared satisfaction with their work in our country, indicating a decrease of 4 percentage points compared to 2022 and 10 percentage points compared to 2021. It is worth noting that a significant group of temporary workers consists of refugees who were forced to leave their homeland due to the ongoing war. In their case, the reason for the decline in job satisfaction in Poland may be uncertainty about the end of the war and fatigue from the prolonged stay in Poland. Another issue is the structural mismatch of workers to job offers, as the number of women working in Poland has increased, along with the growing cost of living in our country."

Ukrainians feel higherliving costs in Poland

Among the surveyed temporary workers from Ukraine, 43% indicated that the money they earn in Poland is sufficient for their living expenses and basic purchases. One-fourth of the respondents declared that they can save and set aside money. At the same time, almost an equal group, 22% of those surveyed, stated that it is difficult to sustain themselves with the money earned in Poland.

Tomasz Dudek:

"The salaries of temporary workers from Ukraine depend on several factors. Qualifications and proficiency in the Polish language play a crucial role, along with the position occupied. The level of earnings also varies depending on the region of Poland and the size of the city. However, it is important to note that high inflation in Poland and the rising cost of living make the earnings of Ukrainian workers not as attractive to them as they were just a few years ago."

Money sent to family in Ukraine

Despite the high cost of living in Poland, as many as 56% of respondents send a portion of their earnings in Poland to their families in Ukraine. Among them, half declared that they send up to 20% of their salary to their families, and almost 30% of the surveyed individuals stated that they send between 20% and 30% of their earnings to their families.

Reluctance to relocate

Among the surveyed temporary workers from Ukraine, a significant 59% are not interested in relocating to another Polish city, even if offered a better job opportunity. Only 19% of the respondents would be interested in such an option. Why are Ukrainian workers reluctant to move? Among the most frequently cited reasons are a reluctance to start everything anew in another city (76%), reluctance to change schools for their children (53%), and reluctance to part with friends (26%). Respondents were allowed to provide two answers to this question.

Tomasz Dudek:

"Refugees coming to Poland primarily directed themselves to large cities and established their lives there. Currently, we are dealing with a geographic mismatch of Ukrainian workers to the Polish labor market. While large urban centers are already saturated with workers, there is still a shortage in smaller cities or economic zones located farther from major cities. Unfortunately, Ukrainian citizens who came to Poland are not mobile enough to take up jobs in less accessible locations. On the other hand, the decision to relocate is hindered by the fact that they have become deeply rooted in the places where they settled in Poland. In this regard, they show similarities to Polish workers who are also not interested in relocation for professional reasons."

Find out more

Do you need up-to-date information on OTTO Work Force? Do you have questions about the current situation on the labor market? Do you want to know the details of our research? Contact us!

Download raport

Contact

Jolanta Jamioł‑Juszczak
Communication Manager

tel.: + 48 519 687 787
e-mail: [email protected]

Home
Ukrainian citizens are experiencing rising living costs in Poland

Sitemap

Home
About OTTO
OTTO Services
Sector specialist
OTTO Insights
Contact

Contact

ul. Szwedzka 5, 55-040 Kobierzyce
[email protected]
tel:+48 71 3394673

Follow us via...

Select division

Certifications: