High social assistance and overqualification: 75% of Ukrainians in Germany are unemployed

Only 25.2% of Ukrainians who fled due to the war have found employment in Germany. In contrast, Denmark has employed 78% of Ukrainians, the Czech Republic 66%, Poland 65%, Sweden and the UK 56%, and the Netherlands 50%, according to Bild, citing data prepared for the Friedrich Ebert Foundation by the University of Münster.

Eurostat data shows that as of early December last year, there were 1.23 million Ukrainians with temporary protection status in Germany.

The high percentage of unemployed Ukrainians is attributed to several factors, the study's authors note.

Legislative requirements are essentially the same across all EU countries: Ukrainian refugees gain temporary protection status without a complex asylum procedure, integrate into health and social protection systems, and immediately obtain work rights. However, there are significant financial differences between European countries.

In Germany, adult Ukrainians receive assistance amounting to 563 euros, and children receive between 357 to 471 euros depending on age. Additionally, housing and extra expenses are covered.

For example, in the Czech Republic, Ukrainians receive 200 euros of emergency assistance, after five months – 130 euros. Medical insurance and living expenses in a communal hostel are covered only for a limited period.

In Poland, there's a one-time payment of 66 euros and 110 euros per child per month. Other than that, there's no social assistance. After four months, refugees must pay for half of their collective housing costs.

Another reason for the low employment rate of Ukrainians in Germany is that 72% of them have higher education and are considered overqualified. The lengthy process of recognizing Ukrainian qualifications, for example, to work as a doctor or pharmacist, hinders employment.

The approach is different in Italy and Slovakia: Ukrainians have been allowed to work in the healthcare system since March 2022.