Ukrainian refugees in Vienna: The fight for the dream job remains tough!

Ukrainian refugees in Vienna: The fight for the dream job remains tough!

In Vienna, the clocks tick differently than usual for many Ukrainian refugees. One of them is 59-year-old Irina from Kharkiv, who had to flee the Russian attack on her homeland around three years ago. Despite her many years of experience as a watch dealer, she has not yet been able to find a job in Vienna and lives on basic supplies, which only bring in around 400 euros a month. After deducting the rent for her small room, she and her roommate are left with just 250 euros.1Like many other Ukrainians, Irina applied to various grocery chains, but received no response whatsoever. Looking for a job is unprofitable - especially for women, who often have little opportunity to work full-time due to childcare needs.

A look at the numbers shows: In Austria, the employment rate among Ukrainian refugees is almost 50 percent. Many of them work in the tourism, hospitality, retail and healthcare sectors. The problem is particularly noticeable for women with children, who find it difficult to take on more than part-time jobs because of the care they require.1Another obstacle is the regulation that makes it possible to earn an additional 110 euros, with 65 cents per euro being deducted from the basic supply. This regulation is often criticized as inadequate and experts suggest considering minimum income as a possible solution.

Hurdles on the way to integration

However, the difficulties when looking for a job often start with the recognition of qualifications. Around 75 percent of Ukrainian displaced people have academic degrees, but face strict recognition regulations. This is also the case with Anastasiia Petrenko, who initiated a Telegram group for doctors from her home country. The group helps to make contacts and exchange ideas about job opportunities.1

But the authorities' support is not always there. In Upper Austria and Vienna there is an obligation for Ukrainian refugees to register with the employment service (AMS), but many complain about insufficient support and poor communication from the institutions. An example of this is Oleksandr Nadraha, who found a job together with his family after receiving intensive advice.1

The situation of Ukrainian refugees on the labor market is also comparable in other countries. In Germany, for example, around 296,000 Ukrainian refugees found employment in November 2024, which corresponds to only 31.7 percent of labor market participation. A similar challenge can be seen here: women, who are often single parents, have less access to permanent employment. Almost 80 percent of the refugees had no knowledge of German when they arrived, which makes integration even more difficult. But after about two years in Germany, more than half report that their German language skills are good or at least passable.23

The way forward

It remains to be hoped that new programs such as “Jobturbo”, which was launched in autumn 2023, can further promote the integration of Ukrainian refugees. Despite the challenges, many committed individuals demonstrate that there are important ways to create opportunities. The willingness to take part in integration courses shows that these people are ready to integrate into their new home and make a positive contribution. Rapid progress in advice and support is urgently needed in order to give Ukrainian refugees real prospects.3