Can Lower Silesian Employers Manage Without Immigrants? WUEB Expert Dr. Iwo Augustyński Explains

Amid the ongoing crisis at the border with Germany and rising incidents of aggression towards immigrants in the country, local government representatives emphasize that foreigners are an indispensable element of the region’s labour market. WUEB expert Dr. Iwo Augustyński offers his analysis on TVP Wrocław’s “Fakty.”

– We must not acquiesce to the spreading of hate speech, which leads to societal polarization. We cannot remain silent when public discourse features words that divide, wound, and instill fear—and, worse still, incite vigilantism and aggressive behaviors,” stated the Lower Silesian Voivode Anna Żabska during a joint press conference of regional leaders, aimed at expressing opposition to the growing xenophobia.

Mayors of Wrocław, Wałbrzych, Jelenia Góra, and Legnica—as well as the region’s education superintendent—voiced similar positions. These officials underscored the critical role of immigration in the regional economy, particularly its contribution to filling staffing shortages in local enterprises.

WUEB Expert: There Is Space for Immigrants, But Employers Must Also Respect Polish Workers

Is the Lower Silesian economy truly incapable of managing without foreign workers? WUEB expert Dr. Iwo Augustyński concurs with this assessment, while urging employers to avoid fostering fear among their employees toward immigrants:

“There are demanding roles associated with relatively low wages—and here, there is indeed space for immigrants, as Polish workers often are reluctant to take on such positions. However, employers must not implement policies that entail deteriorating work conditions or displacing Polish citizens from the labour market—policies that can be summed up in the phrase ‘Immigrants will take your place.’”

— Dr. Iwo Augustyński.

Nearly 18,000 Work Permits Issued to Foreigners in 2024

Last year in Lower Silesia, nearly 18,000 work permits were granted to foreigners—most to citizens of Ukraine, Belarus, and Georgia (a combined total exceeding 15,000, including almost 14,000 for Ukrainians). For comparison: during the record‑breaking years of 2022 and 2023, approximately 36,500 and 34,500 foreign nationals, respectively, obtained work permits—predominantly Ukrainians. According to Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) data, about 124,000 foreigners are legally employed in Lower Silesia.

See the full TVP3 Wrocław feature: https://wroclaw.tvp.pl/87950098/21072025-2130 

Author: Sebastian Rogalski