Ukrainians in Germany and the Netherlands want to take up employment despite collecting financial aid - EWL Survey

The majority of Ukrainian citizens residing in Germany and the Netherlands declare their willingness to start working or are currently employed, despite receiving financial assistance from the host countries. However, these nations are still not fully tapping into this substantial potential in the labour market. This is a key finding of the survey "Unlocking the Potential: Ukrainian Citizens in Germany and the Netherlands," conducted by the EWL Group and the Centre for East European Studies at the University of Warsaw.

Before the Russian aggression, there were about 140,000 Ukrainian citizens in Germany. Today, their number has increased more than eightfold, reaching over 1.2 million people, making Ukrainians the second-largest immigrant group in Germany. A similar situation can be observed in the Netherlands. Before the war, the number of Ukrainian nationals was about 30,000; today, it is almost four times as many, totalling nearly 120,000.

The survey revealed that 63% of Ukrainians in Germany and 81% of Ukrainians in the Netherlands receive financial assistance from their host countries. Despite 44% of respondents in Germany and 40% in the Netherlands stating that the financial aid allows them to support themselves, they still choose to take up employment.

According to Andrzej Korkus, CEO of EWL Group, this is a very optimistic sign, suggesting that Ukrainian citizens in the EU need the proverbial fishing rod, not the fish.

Notably, almost half of the respondents in both countries (55% in Germany and 53% in the Netherlands) expressed interest in attending courses to improve their professional skills. The survey also showed that 74% of respondents in Germany have a university degree, and that number jumps to 75% in the Netherlands. Furthermore, 52% of Ukrainian nationals in the Netherlands and 48% of respondents in Germany admit that they can communicate in the language of their host country.

Michalina Sielewicz, EWL Group International Director, remarks that Ukrainian citizens in the EU possess high levels of education and vocational skills. However, their potential isn't being fully utilized. She suggests that investing in language training and skills development programs can unlock this valuable resource and support the integration of the Ukrainian community in the EU.

Those who have managed to find employment earn a significantly higher net salary compared to their home country, averaging €1,334 net per month in Germany and €1,304 in the Netherlands-roughly three times the average net salary in Ukraine. Almost three-quarters of respondents (70% in Germany and 73% in the Netherlands) assess their financial situation as average.

The study found that more than half of Ukrainian citizens in Germany and the Netherlands, 73% and 83% respectively, would be willing to recommend working in these countries to their relatives and friends, indicating a generally positive employment experience.

The survey, conducted in March 2024 through a hybrid approach combining online CAWI interviews and face-to-face interactions, involved 400 adult Ukrainian citizens currently residing in Germany and 400 adult Ukrainian citizens currently residing in the Netherlands. The study included all Ukrainian citizens residing in these countries, both labour migrants and war refugees.

Anatoliy Zymnin
Spokesperson & PR Manager
+48 535 888 815
anatol.zymnin@ewl.com.pl

Al. Jerozolimskie 160,
02-326, Warszawa
Poland
www.ewl.com.pl

One of the fastest growing companies in the
employment sector in the EU, which successfully
connects candidates from five continents (Europe,
Asia, Africa, North and South America) with European
employers. The company is gradually increasing the
number of countries from which job candidates come,
and is implementing technological solutions that aim
to further digitalise the recruitment, employment
legalisation and accommodation of employees.
Since its founding in 2007, the company has helped
more than 170,000 people from 28 countries to find
employment with more than 1.6 thousand employers
in EU countries.

As a global migration platform, EWL uses dedicated
AI technology in its operations, which quickly and
effectively matches candidates with employers, taking
into account the skills and experience of potential
employees.

The development of the Migration Platform has been
supported since 2021 by the National Centre for
Research and Development. Since 2018 EWL has been
conducting sociological studies among foreigners who
have taken employment in the EU.

EWL is guided by the values of: openness, cooperation
and responsibility, being fair, challenging the status
quo and customer focus. The company's mission is to
structure issues related to global mobility by eliminating
the barriers facing millions of candidates around the
world, to connect jobseekers with the best employers
and to provide a transparent employment process.

This release was published on openPR.