From Crisis to Contribution: Upwardly Global and the Ukrainian Refugee Workforce in Poland

About This Project

Summary

When millions fled Ukraine, Upwardly Global launched a program to help refugees in Poland rebuild their careers, not with temporary aid, but with lasting economic opportunity. Research shows refugees now contribute 2.7% of Poland’s GDP and have a 69% employment rate, nearly matching Polish nationals. As U.S. aid wanes, this initiative is scaling to train 1,000 more job seekers and place 500 in career-aligned roles in 2025, ensuring displaced professionals can rebuild lives and economies.

Goals & Objectives

Upwardly Global dismantles employment barriers for immigrant, refugee, and asylee professionals. In Poland, it is advancing this mission by embedding AI to reduce hiring bias, connecting Ukrainian refugees to career-aligned jobs, and upholding economic inclusion as a human right.

Results & Impact

Since launch, the program has trained 1,500+ Ukrainian refugees, primarily women, and placed 520 in skill-aligned roles across industries. Hired by 500+ employers, participants show strong labor market integration and growing economic inclusion, with employer engagement still expanding across Poland