Migrants from Ukraine - Social and Economic Implementations for Poland in the Context of Development Processes.

Abstract

The article conducts a thorough investigation into the social and economic ramifications of the influx of refugees from Ukraine to Poland following the commencement of the full-scale Russian invasion on 24 February 2022. The event precipitated the most significant migration crisis in Europe since the Second World War, with Poland, due to its geographical location, shared history and cultural and linguistic affinities, becoming the primary destination country for those seeking refuge from the war. During the initial months of the conflict, several million people crossed the Polish-Ukrainian border, a significant proportion of whom were women, children and the elderly. The present article focuses on the consequences of this phenomenon for Polish society and economy, showing both challenges and potential development opportunities. The analysis presented herein encompasses a range of topics, including the impact of refugee migration on the labour market. This includes changes in the structure of employment, the dynamics of labour supply, and the integration of refugees into local labour markets. The significant strain and reorganisation of the education sector is also discussed, including the integration of Ukrainian children in Polish schools, language problems and the need for curriculum adaptation. Concurrently, an analysis was conducted of the health and social care sector, which has been confronted with a marked increase in demand for medical and psychological services. The author draws attention to the differences between previous labour migration from Ukraine and current forced migration, highlighting, among other things, different motivations, demographic structure, level of labour force participation and the degree of economic independence of migrants. A particular focus was allocated to the examination of state and local government policies, the efficacy of integration programmes, and the extent of social acceptance of refugees. In conclusion, the necessity of long-term thinking about integration was emphasised, encompassing not only ad hoc measures, but also systemic institutional solutions in the field of education, labour market and social policy. It is only through such measures that the risk of marginalisation of refugees can be mitigated, thereby ensuring their optimal contribution to Poland's long-term socio-economic development. This article was prepared as part of the project “Migrants from Ukraine in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship: Socio-Economic Implications”, co-financed by the Minister of Science under the “Regional Initiative of Excellence” program for the years 2024–2027, project number RID/SP/0011/2024/1, with a total funding amount of PLN 17,172,501.00.

Key Words: refugees from Ukraine, social integration, labour market, migration policy, economic challenges, Poland, social development.