Ukrainians abroad demonstrate unique results: high employment, stable income and adaptation. However, not all of them plan to return.
War always makes people flee. That was the case for millions of Ukrainians who fled the country after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. More than 5 million Ukrainians still live outside their homeland, according to the UN.
The Financial Times writes about this.
According to Jean-Christophe Dumont of the OECD, Ukrainians are employed in some European countries at rates twice as high as other refugees. Rates are particularly high in Poland and the Czech Republic, countries with close historical, linguistic and economic ties to Ukraine.
One of the key factors is a favorable macroeconomic environment. When Ukrainians arrived, labor markets were tight and demand for labor was high. In addition, the European Union introduced a temporary protection regime that allowed Ukrainians to immediately obtain a work permit, access to housing, healthcare, and education.
A survey by the Center for Economic Strategy shows that the financial situation of Ukrainian refugees has improved: the share of those who had to borrow or save for basic needs fell from 28% in 2022 to 7% in 2024. At the same time, most work in areas that do not correspond to their education – accommodation, catering, manufacturing. This is the result of language barriers and difficulties with the recognition of diplomas.
It is worth noting that Ukrainian refugees are one of the most educated groups among displaced persons: more than 40% have a master's degree or higher. But despite this, highly qualified Ukrainians have to accept jobs that do not match their training.
Will these people return home? According to surveys, fewer and fewer of them plan to return. If in November 2022, 50% expressed such a desire, then in December 2024, only 20%. Experts point out: the better a person adapts abroad, the less motivation he has to return, even when the war is over.
This poses a challenge for Ukraine's future: the outflow of educated citizens and children will negatively impact the economy and demography. However, a developed Ukrainian diaspora can become a powerful resource for support, investment and recovery.
Let us recall that, according to the director of the Institute of Demography and Social Research, there is no simple answer to how to return refugees who left due to Russia's full-scale invasion. So far in Ukraine it will be dangerous, people will not come back.
