The study suggests that over a million Ukrainians could relocate to Poland, with younger people the most likely to leave their homeland.
The report cites research from the Democratic Initiatives Foundation and the Razumkov Center, which found that difficult living conditions and a lack of stability are key factors driving emigration considerations.
Among men, 25 percent expressed a willingness to leave Ukraine, compared to 17 percent of women.
Overall, 21 percent of respondents were considering emigration, while 70 percent planned to stay. Nearly one in 10 remained undecided.
Younger Ukrainians are the most inclined to leave. One in three people aged 18-29 expressed interest in emigration, while the percentage drops to 27 percent among those aged 30-39 and 23 percent among those aged 40-49.
The likelihood of leaving continues to decrease with age, with just 16 percent of those aged 50-59 and 9 percent of those over 60 considering emigration.
Residents of eastern Ukraine, where relentless Russian aggression has had the most severe impact, are the most likely to leave. One in four respondents from this region said they would emigrate after the war. In southern Ukraine, the figure was lower at 12 percent but still significant.
“The residents of eastern regions, who have suffered the most from the war, are the most inclined to emigrate,” said Krzysztof Inglot, founder of Personnel Service and a labor market expert. "One in four has already decided they will leave after the war ends."
The primary reasons for potential emigration include economic hardship and a lack of personal security.
The most commonly cited reason was limited career opportunities, chosen by about 30 percent of respondents. War-related safety concerns were the second most common reason, cited by 29 percent, followed by inadequate social support from the state, also at 29 percent.
Personnel Service's latest Polish Labor Market Barometer survey found that Poland remains the most popular destination for Ukrainian migrant workers.
Forty-three percent of respondents planned to return to Poland for employment, while 10 percent said they wanted to settle in the country permanently in the coming years. This marks an increase of 5.5 percentage points from a similar study conducted in 2023.
When asked about destinations outside Poland, nearly 30 percent of Ukrainians named Germany as their preferred country.
Canada and the United States were next, attracting 21.3 percent of respondents. Belgium and the Netherlands followed, with 12.8 percent indicating interest in moving there.
Other countries generated less interest. The Czech Republic was chosen by 9.1 percent of respondents, the United Kingdom by 8.5 percent, and Nordic countries by 7.3 percent.
The study was conducted between November 29 and December 14, 2024, with 1,518 respondents over the age of 18 interviewed directly in Ukrainian government-controlled areas where no active fighting was taking place. The theoretical margin of error does not exceed 2.6 percent.
(rt/gs)
Source: PAP