Employment rate for Ukrainian refugees in Germany doubles since 2022

The employment rate among Ukrainian refugees in Germany has almost doubled since 2022, authorities said on Thursday.

The study from the Federal Institute for Population Research (BiB) showed that 30% of Ukrainians refugees who arrived in Germany by June 2022 - three months after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine - were in employment by early 2024, up from 16% in the mid-2022.

Around 1.1 million Ukrainians who fled the Russian offensive currently reside in Germany, the BiB said.

While the employment rate among Ukrainian refugees is increasing, the agency said that the poor economic situation, lengthy recognition procedures for foreign qualifications and language barriers continue to affect chances of employment.

The BiB said 92% of Ukrainians not currently seeking employment are either attending language courses, or say they do not have sufficient knowledge of German to find a job.

Others are caring for children or relatives, with the employment rate for mothers with young children standing at only 22%.