Descriptive Summary:

Ukraine–Poland Migration Skill Corridor

This working paper analyses the Ukraine–Poland migration skill corridor, a long-standing and asymmetrical pathway shaped by labour demand, geographic proximity, and, since 2022, large-scale forced displacement. 

Drawing on stakeholder interviews and desk research, the paper classifies the corridor as hybrid: simultaneously crisis-driven and labour-driven. Poland’s post-2022 implementation of the EU Temporary Protection Directive created rapid access to residence and employment, yet systemic coordination on skills recognition, language acquisition, and long-term integration remains limited. Recruitment is largely employer- and network-driven, with uneven oversight of intermediaries. While IT and construction show smoother matching dynamics, regulated professions—especially healthcare—face complex and lengthy recognition procedures, contributing to skills underutilisation. 

The corridor demonstrates strong labour market absorption capacity but lacks a coherent bilateral strategy for skills development. The paper identifies key bottlenecks in recognition, language provision, and institutional coordination, and outlines opportunities for more structured, forward-looking cooperation.