Employment Status of Ukrainian Refugees in 2025
By mid-2025, the employment rate for Ukrainian refugees aged 20-64 stands at approximately 57%. This figure is 22 percentage points lower than the average employment rate among citizens of the host countries. A major factor driving this disparity is skills mismatch. Nearly 60% of employed Ukrainians in Europe are working below their professional qualification level, with over a third of refugees holding higher education degrees employed in low-skilled positions. This situation reflects the immense challenge of transferring professional credentials and experience across borders, especially during a time of displacement.
Employment Rates Across Different Countries
Countries where Ukrainian refugees have achieved the highest employment rates include:
- Estonia (72%)
- Hungary (71%)
- United Kingdom (69%)
- Poland (68%)
- Bulgaria (67%)
- Czechia (66%)
- Netherlands (64%)
Countries with mid-range employment rates for Ukrainian refugees are:
- Spain (61%)
- Italy (58%)
- Lithuania (57%)
- France (53%)
- Romania (50%)
- Moldova (46%)
- Ireland (46%)
- Belgium (46%)
The lowest employment rates are observed in:
- Sweden (43%)
- Finland (40%)
- Denmark (39%)
- Germany (39%)
- Norway (37%)
- Switzerland (29%)
According to UN estimates, this skills mismatch is a primary reason for a 40% gap in median salaries between Ukrainians and the local population. Research indicates that knowledge of the local language significantly boosts employment prospects. For instance, proficiency increases the chance of finding work by 13 percentage points. Length of stay also matters: residing in a country for 1-2 years raises the probability by 10 p.p., 2-3 years by 14 p.p., and over 3 years by 20 p.p. Possessing vocational education improves chances by 5 p.p., and higher education by 10 p.p. Notably, men are employed 7 p.p. more often than women, while individuals aged 50-64 have a 10 p.p. lower chance of employment.
This data underscores the critical need for effective integration programs to help Ukrainian refugees adapt to life in Europe. The gap in employment and wages highlights the necessity for targeted support initiatives, such as language courses, professional retraining, and information campaigns. These measures are essential to improve labor market outcomes and facilitate the successful integration of Ukrainians across the EU.