Ukrainians living in Austria face numerous difficulties in finding employment. The simplified access to the labor market, while simplifying the situation, does not solve all the problems. Find out what obstacles affect job search and how many refugees have been successfully employed so far

Legal advice on education and employment abroad for Ukrainians

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Despite the easier access to the labor market in Austria, many Ukrainian refugees face difficulties in finding work. As of the beginning of 2024, about 81,000 Ukrainian citizens were registered in Austria, of whom only a third were able to find work.

We described in detail the rules of entry and residence in Austria for Ukrainians in a previous article.

What is the situation with employment of Ukrainians in Austria?

Despite the fact that Austria has opened up access to its labor market, the pace of employment of Ukrainian refugees remains slow, which worries local officials.

According to kurier.at, citing data from the Austrian Employment Service (AMS), as of July 2024, 21,184 Ukrainians were employed (66.6% of them women), another 3,943 people had part-time jobs (75.6% of them women), while 6,016 Ukrainian citizens with temporary protection status were registered as unemployed. Although employment rates among Ukrainians have increased slightly since April 2023, the overall employment rate remains unsatisfactory.

At the end of March 2024, the employment rate among Ukrainian refugees aged 15 to 64 was 29.1%. Most Ukrainians found work in Vorarlberg (49%), while the lowest number was in Vienna (21.9%).

It should be noted that two-thirds of all refugees registered in Austria are women. And almost half of all Ukrainians, namely 45%, currently live in Vienna.

Most Ukrainians work in the hotel industry, catering and retail. In general, more than a third of those employed are in Vienna.

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What are the barriers to employment for Ukrainians: survey results

A survey conducted by the University of Innsbruck on behalf of the Austrian Employment Service (AMS) has identified several key issues:

➤ Qualifications: three-quarters of respondents have an academic degree, but only 32% of those registered for employment have a university degree.

➤ German language skills: 46% of respondents stated that they read German well, but only 20% of respondents have written and oral communication skills in German.

➤ Caregiving responsibilities: The majority of Ukrainians of working age, namely 69%, are women who have to take care of children or the elderly. Thus, 16% of women surveyed do not work because of caregiving responsibilities.

➤ Non-recognition of professional qualifications: many professional diplomas are not recognized, which makes it difficult to find a job. 27% of men and 14% of women have been trained, but about 20% of respondents were unable to find a job, and 13% of respondents had their qualifications not recognized.

At the same time, the situation with income is very unstable for two-thirds of the respondents, as a significant part of the income of these households is made up of basic support payments. At the same time, about 50 percent of the respondents would like to stay in Austria permanently, 12 percent would like to stay for at least a few years, and about 25 percent of the respondents have not yet made any decision.

Experts interviewed for the study named a temporary residence permit as the main obstacle to integration into the labor market. Other obstacles include lack of German language skills, unrecognized professional qualifications, lack of childcare facilities, and limited mobility.

If you have difficulties finding a job abroad or need legal assistance to legalize your stay, Visit Ukraine's team of lawyers is ready to help. Our specialists provide advice on employment, recognition of professional qualifications and other important issues to ensure you have unhindered access to the EU labor market. Contact us to get professional support in the form of a consultation or full legal support.

We remind you! When planning a trip to Austria by your own car, you need to choose a convenient route in advance and familiarize yourself with the rules for drivers in the country. Read more about the necessary documents, convenient routes and the main provisions of the traffic rules in Austria in our previous article.

Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.

Ihor Usyk is the Head of Legal Department at Visit Ukraine

In order to organize a trip, ensure a safe move and successful employment in a new country, I advise you to contact a specialist. My colleagues, qualified specialists with legal education, will help you avoid unpleasant situations when traveling abroad.

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