Countries that once attracted large numbers of Polish workers are now seeing more departures than arrivals. The Netherlands recorded a net outflow of Polish citizens in the first nine months of last year—the first such shift in more than two decades—while Germany saw nearly 9,000 Poles return home in 2024. Economists say the trend reflects a profound change in Poland’s economic fortunes. Wages have risen sharply over the past 20 years, unemployment has fallen dramatically and the job market remains strong. Poland’s economy has also grown faster than many Western European peers. Adjusted for the cost of living, Poland’s GDP per capita reached 83% of the EU average in 2024, up from less than half in 2004. Some forecasts suggest Poland could soon match, or even surpass, several Western European economies on this measure, making a return home increasingly attractive for Poles abroad.
