Since the start of the full-scale invasion, EU countries have hosted more than 4 million Ukrainian refugees. Germany and the Netherlands are among the countries that have provided shelter to more than a third of them. One of the latest sociological surveys focuses on the experience of Ukrainians as labor migrants and internally displaced persons. Read more in the article.

Legal assistance for Ukrainians in Ukraine and abroad

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According to Radio Liberty, more than 1.65 million Ukrainians are currently registered in Germany. According to a study by the EWL group in cooperation with the EWL Foundation for Migrant Support in the Labor Market and the Center for East European Studies at the University of Warsaw, in March 2024, about 100,000 Ukrainians were in the Netherlands, and their number is growing. From March 18 to 30, 2024, EWL conducted a sociological survey involving 800 adult Ukrainian citizens. The main areas of study were

- factors used by Ukrainians to determine Germany as a place of temporary residence;

- employment and job opportunities for Ukrainian citizens;

- opportunities for Ukrainians in Germany;

- financial support and social assistance for internally displaced persons;

- recommendations for Ukrainians on living in Germany;

- determination of the level of monthly earnings for a Ukrainian migrant and plans for living in Germany;

- migrants' interest in professional development and career growth.

Earlier, we talked about which countries are the most popular among Ukrainian migrants and which are rapidly losing popularity. Read more in the article.

Digital results of the survey of Ukrainian citizens in Germany and the Netherlands

Germany

51% of Ukrainian citizens came with children

74% of Ukrainian citizens have higher education

48% of respondents said they speak German at a conversational level

67% of Ukrainians are employed

16% of IDPs work in the service sector

36% of respondents use German at work

73% of Ukrainians would recommend employment in Germany

40% of respondents plan to stay for the next few years

57% of those who came with children see their children's future in Germany

1334 € is the "net" earnings of a Ukrainian migrant in Germany.

Information on employment of Ukrainians in Germany can be found here.

The Netherlands

49% of Ukrainian citizens came with children

75% of Ukrainian citizens have higher education

52% of respondents said they speak Dutch at a conversational level

61% of Ukrainians are employed

17% of IDPs work in the service sector

51% of respondents use Dutch at work

82% of Ukrainians would recommend employment in the Netherlands

50% of respondents plan to stay for the next few years

29% of those who came with children see their children's future in the Netherlands

1104 € - "net" earnings of a Ukrainian migrant in the Netherlands

You can learn more about the peculiarities of employment of Ukrainians in the Netherlands by following the link.

Ukrainian migrant women in Germany and the Netherlands - a gender issue

The overwhelming majority of migrants are women, which only adds to the uniqueness of this category of migration. According to the study, Ukrainian women make up 85% of internally displaced persons in Germany and 79% in the Netherlands. 95% of the respondents are of working age (the average age of Ukrainians in Germany is 36 years, in the Netherlands - 38 years), which creates favorable conditions for them in the labor market. However, they may also face difficulties in finding a job, such as caring for a child or an elderly person.

However, not all Ukrainian women can leave for temporary residence in the European Union. For what reasons women may be refused to cross the border, read the article.

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Self-identification of Ukrainian immigrants in Germany and the Netherlands - economic migrants or war refugees?

Currently, Ukrainians in Germany and the Netherlands can have the status of either economic migrants or war refugees. The diagrams below show how Ukrainians identify themselves.

Germany

78% of Ukrainians define their status as "war refugees" (of which 58% are currently employed in the country of temporary residence). Accordingly, 22% identify themselves as economic migrants (98% of them are employed).

The Netherlands

In the Netherlands, the number of our citizens in need of protection during the war is 10% higher. 88% of Ukrainians define their status as "war refugees" (58% of them are currently employed in the country of temporary residence). 12% identify themselves as economic migrants (87% of them are employed).

Read more about how to get asylum in Europe and the difference between temporary protection and refugee status here.

Why do Ukrainians want to stay in the EU?

According to the survey, a number of reasons have been identified that encourage migrants to stay in Germany and the Netherlands. At the moment, one of the main reasons is the simplification of the legalization process - now Ukrainians will not have to go through a lengthy bureaucratic procedure. As for the factors that contribute to the rapid integration of immigrants, we can name the following

- wide access to social benefits

- access to language resources;

- rapid integration into the local community.

At the same time, difficulties in learning the language and concern for the safety of relatives reduce the desire of Ukrainians to stay here permanently.

You may find this article interesting: Employment conditions for Ukrainian refugees in Germany will be changed: how will it affect payments?

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Ihor Usyk is the Head of Legal Department at Visit Ukraine

On the Visit Ukraine portal, you can get legal advice on migration law. Our lawyers will answer all your questions and, if necessary, help you collect, submit and receive the documents you need. You can order a specialist consultation or full legal support by following this link.