What Will I Do When the War Ends? Return Intentions and Reconstruction Engagement Among Voluntary and Forced Ukrainian Migrants in Poland

ABSTRACT This article looks at what Ukrainian migrants living in Poland plan to do once the war ends. It focuses on differences by age and migration type, highlighting the implications of these findings for public policy. The results show clear contrasts between forced and voluntary migrants, and these differences are interpreted through two distinct theoretical frameworks: the New Economics of Labour Migration for voluntary migrants and the aspirations–capabilities framework for forced migrants. This article discusses selected findings from a survey conducted between May and July 2025 among 428 adult Ukrainian citizens living in Poland. Forced migrants are more likely to think about returning to Ukraine and about taking part in post‐war reconstruction. Voluntary migrants, who moved to Poland before the war, more often plan to stay abroad. They are also less willing to engage in rebuilding Ukraine. Age matters even more. Young people stand out as the group least interested in returning and least willing to participate in reconstruction. A large share of them cannot yet say what they will do. Older respondents are more open to returning and more ready to contribute actively to rebuilding the country. These findings send a clear message to policymakers. Ukraine risks losing a significant portion of its future workforce, particularly young people who are emigrating abroad. If Ukraine wants them back, the return cannot be left to chance. It will require real security, good jobs, access to housing and trust in public institutions. The findings are situated within the broader demographic context of Ukraine's post‐war recovery, where the return decisions of refugees—particularly younger cohorts—carry significant implications for the country's future workforce and reconstruction capacity.