According to a report by the United Nations’ refugee agency UNHCR and Deloitte, Ukrainian refugees have significantly contributed to Poland’s economy without causing unemployment or wage reductions for Polish workers. The report challenges misconceptions about the economic impact of refugees, stating that they have added more value than they have taken. Poland has welcomed over a million Ukrainian refugees, and the report highlights that allowing these refugees to work and start businesses has boosted Poland’s GDP by 2.7% in 2024. The presence of refugees has also led to specialization and productivity improvements in Poland’s economy. However, many Ukrainian refugees are underemployed due to language barriers and other factors. Addressing these integration gaps could yield annual macroeconomic benefits of 6 billion zlotys ($1.60 billion). Poland’s government has not yet commented on the report.
— new from Reuters
