A recent Gi Group survey and ARC Rynek i Opinia reveals that nearly 18% of Poles are considering economic emigration in the upcoming year.
A year ago, economic emigration was considered by 16.1 % of the respondents. In this year’s study, this figure rose to 17.8%. Only 67.7% of Poles were in favour of staying in the country, compared with 81.2% a year ago. The percentage of the undecided skyrocketed from 2.7% to 14.6% in twelve months.
„Despite the successive waves of the pandemic and the unstable economic situation around the world, many Poles still consider leaving the country in search of better wages, which can be explained by rising inflation, an increase in living costs, and a general feeling of instability” -, Managing director of Gi Group Temporary & Permanent Recruitment Anna Wesołowska told the Polish Press Agency (PAP).
The director of the Polish HR Forum, Agnieszka Zielińska, noted that two years ago, the percentage of people considering economic migration was less than 10%.
„The growing sense of uncertainty and high volatility of both economic and geopolitical factors may make Poles more open to looking for new earning opportunities abroad. However, looking at long-term trends, it can be seen that the need to look for a job outside the country is much lower than 20 years ago […] and above all the increase in salaries and job offers give hope that the biggest boom in economic emigration is already behind us” – the expert told PAP
The most willing group to emigrate for better wages are aged 25 to 44 (56%). More men than women (60% vs. 40%) declare their readiness to leave. Germany remains the most frequently chosen destination for economic emigration of Poles – this country was indicated by nearly 32 % of the respondents. The Netherlands came second with an increase with 15.8%.
The UK observes a considerable decrease in interest from emigrating Poles. Last year, 9.4% of Poles declared they wanted to move to Great Britain, while this percentage dropped to 6.4%.
Image: Unsplash
Author: Sébastien Meuwissen
