Positive Attitudes Toward Ukrainian and Belarusian Workers Are Growing in Poland
Early morning at Warsaw’s Dworzec Zachodni, the Minsk coach pulls in almost full. Passengers step down with small suitcases and packed hold luggage after the Orthodox Easter holidays. Families wait near the barriers, while others head straight for taxis, trams, and nearby rail connections.
Many of those arriving are Belarusian professionals returning to work in Warsaw and across Poland. Conversations in Russian and Polish drift across the platform — a familiar sound on the Warsaw–Minsk route. After major holidays, the flow is particularly noticeable. With direct flight routes between Belarus and Poland suspended following EU airspace restrictions, buses have become one of the main ways to travel. Services on the Warsaw–Minsk route are often full, particularly after major holidays, reflecting a quiet but growing movement of Belarusian talent back into Poland’s labour market.
For many, the return to Warsaw marks the end of the holiday period and a return to roles in logistics, engineering, IT, manufacturing, and business services. This steady flow highlights a broader recruitment trend: Belarusian professionals are becoming an increasingly important part of Poland’s hiring landscape.
Poland’s labour market continues to evolve, and one of the most notable developments in 2026 is the growing positive sentiment toward Ukrainian and Belarusian workers. As labour shortages persist across key sectors, foreign workers are increasingly viewed not as competition, but as an essential part of Poland’s economic growth.
According to the latest Polish Labour Market Barometer from Personnel Service, attitudes toward foreign workers are becoming more favourable. Today, 36% of Poles report a positive attitude toward foreign workers, while 43% remain neutral. Only 14% express negative views, indicating a generally high level of acceptance.
Foreign Workers Filling Labour Gaps
The data also shows that 69% of Poles are not concerned about losing their jobs to foreign workers, suggesting that most people see international employees as complementing rather than replacing the local workforce. Only 21% of respondents reported concerns about job competition.
This reflects what many employers already experience — foreign workers are helping fill labour shortages, particularly in industries where Polish candidates are harder to find. These sectors include:
Manufacturing
Logistics
Production
Services
Construction
Agriculture
Ukrainian Workers Remain the Largest Group
Ukrainian workers continue to represent the largest group of foreign employees in Poland, accounting for nearly 80% of all foreign workers. Many have already built long-term careers in Poland and developed strong ties to the local labour market.
Research also shows that 73% of Ukrainian workers positively assess their professional situation in Poland, highlighting overall satisfaction with employment opportunities and working conditions.
Belarusian Workers: A Quiet but Growing Contribution
While Ukrainian workers remain the largest group of foreign employees in Poland, Belarusian professionals represent a quiet but growing presence in the workforce. In recent years, Belarusian talent has increasingly contributed to Poland’s labour market, particularly in sectors facing persistent skill shortages.
Belarusians are now considered the second-largest group of foreign workers in Poland, with over 120,000 employed and growing numbers choosing Poland for long-term career opportunities. The increase has been gradual but consistent, making Belarusian workers a silent yet important contributor to Poland’s economic growth.
Employers often highlight several advantages of Belarusian candidates:
Strong technical and engineering skills
High adaptability and work ethic
Language and cultural similarities
Interest in long-term employment rather than short-term roles
Belarus also has a strong technical education tradition, particularly in engineering and IT. As a result, many Belarusian professionals bring solid academic foundations and practical technical experience, with a growing number working as developers, engineers, and IT specialists in Poland.
Belarusian professionals are increasingly present across IT, engineering, logistics, manufacturing, and business services, helping companies address labour shortages and maintain growth.
A Positive Trend for Employers
The growing acceptance of Ukrainian and Belarusian workers is a positive development for employers facing ongoing recruitment challenges. For recruitment agencies and hiring teams, this expanding talent pool provides greater flexibility and access to skilled professionals across multiple sectors. As labour shortages persist, access to international talent becomes increasingly important.
For companies, this trend means:
Easier integration of international employees
Stronger workforce stability
Greater flexibility in hiring
Continued business growth despite labour shortages
Looking Ahead
As Poland’s labour market continues to develop, Ukrainian and Belarusian workers are playing an increasingly important role in supporting economic growth. Rising acceptance and long-term workforce integration suggest that international hiring will remain a key part of recruitment strategies in 2026 and beyond.
