Poland : Faces Dramatic Workforce Decline Without Immigration

Poland : Facing a significant challenge as its working-age population is expected to decrease by nearly a third by the year 2060 unless the nation opts to welcome more migrants from regions beyond eastern Europe.

This forecast is based on a study conducted by the state statistics office and is a reflection of the declining birth rate in the country.

It also highlights the ongoing political debates surrounding the prospect of opening up the European Union’s sixth-largest economy to increased immigration.

Such a substantial decline in the working-age population would add additional strain to Poland’s labour-dependent economy, which is currently valued over $600 billion, and put pressure on public finances due to the increasing number of retirees.

According to the study, in less than four decades, Poland could witness a decrease of 15 million working-age residents. Simultaneously, neighbouring countries like Ukraine and Belarus are also grappling with aging populations, which means there will be fewer potential workers migrating to Poland.

Poland & Migration

The topic of migration has taken centre stage in Poland’s political landscape in the lead-up to the general election scheduled for October. The ruling Law & Justice party has integrated anti-immigrant rhetoric into its nationalist agenda, creating a significant point of contention.

However, this stance has come into conflict with the practical economic situation, as numerous Eastern European EU member states have quietly addressed persistent labour market gaps by welcoming non-European labourers.

Also Read : Canada : Housing crunch worsened by international students