On 4 March 2022, Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/382 established temporary protection for displaced persons from Ukraine and provided them with a set of harmonised rights, including the right to engage in employment or self-employment. Eurostat data reveal that over 4.31 million non-EU citizens who fled Ukraine were under temporary protection in the EU as of 31 December 2023. Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic accounted for approximately 60% of these beneficiaries of temporary protection (BoTP). 

In this context, this Inform aims to (i) examine the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of BoTP that are most relevant for their labour market integration, (ii) analyse existing data on the labour market integration of BoTP (despite data limitations) and (iii) map targeted policies, structures and measures in the host countries to facilitate the labour market integration of BoTP.

Among other key points, several conclusions emerge:

• Most BoTP are young women of working age, many with children or fleeing with people over the age of 60 years. Displaced women from Ukraine thus face a number of barriers to their labour market integration, including care obligations, limited knowledge of the local language, skills mismatches, difficulties in skills recognition, risk of exploitation, breakdown of family units, and uncertainties about the length of stay. Compared to other refugee women, however, some characteristics of BoTP facilitate labour market integration, such as educational profile, existing professional and social networks, and immediate access to employment.
   
• EMN Member and Observer countries and non-EU OECD countries report a notable increase in the total number of BoTP employed between September 2022 and 2023. However, those employment rates vary across countries. In Belgium, the employment rate from BoTP increased from 11% in September 2022 to 17% in September 2023, while this employment rate in the Netherlands increased from 44% in November 2022 to 55% in November 2023.
   
• In September 2023, across host countries, BoTP were primarily employed in the following sectors: (i) accommodation and food services, (ii) administrative and support service activities, (iii) manufacturing, (iv) wholesale and retail trade and (v) construction. 
   
• Data from EMN Member and Observer Countries highlights the high level of educational attainment among beneficiaries of temporary protection, with over 60% having completed tertiary education in some countries. Nevertheless, significant mismatches exist between their education and/or prior employment in Ukraine and their current employment in host countries, often in low-skilled occupations.
   
• Challenges related to the recognition of qualifications, potential mismatches in qualifications, language barriers, and uncertainty about the duration of their stay could have led BoTP and host countries’ authorities to prioritise early employment in low-skilled jobs over highly qualified employment. 
   
• Host countries demonstrate varied policies, strategies and priorities for facilitating labour market integration for BoTP. While common themes such as immediate access to the labour market and promoting self-sufficiency prevail, tailored support and sector-specific approaches underscore the need for flexibility. Language acquisition and qualification alignment emerge as crucial components for integration. Various strategies such as individual counselling, one-stop-shop services, and sector-specific initiatives aim to facilitate labour market integration. Ongoing efforts also include awareness campaigns, and collaborative endeavours and partnerships between private, non-profit/civil society and public organisations.
   
• Host countries report measures to assist BoTP to transition from unemployment to economic self-sufficiency (so-called bridging measures). Most report general and mainstream support measures, but do not provide targeted assistance for employed BoTP who struggle to meet their basic needs.

For further information, please read the Inform attached above.