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Challenges of refugee integration in the EU labor market

Held by VITE SUTE (Ukraine) the fifth Community of Practice (CoP) online workshop as part of the Erasmus+ MAAS project brought together 19 participants from academic institutions, civil society, and employment organizations across Europe and from Ukraine, focusing on the integration challenges and employment opportunities for Ukrainian refugees within the EU tourism labour market.

The session featured three core topics:

  1. “Travel to Ukraine: How Tourism Adapts to New Realities” – exploring how the Ukrainian tourism sector is coping with war-related disruptions, evolving into forms like aid and war tourism, and adjusting marketing, safety, and service strategies to survive.
  2. “Access to Labour Markets and Employment in Europe for Ukrainian Refugees” – providing a data-driven overview of refugee distribution, employment conditions, barriers such as language and qualification recognition, and steps taken by EU countries to support refugee integration.
  3. “Ukrainian Job-seekers Respond: Needs, Aspirations and Future Prospects” – presenting findings from a survey of 30 Ukrainian refugees across 7 EU countries, offering insight into their employment experiences, job search challenges, and essential support needs for successful integration.

Participants engaged in targeted break-out discussions on employment guarantees, national-level job brokerage challenges, and aligning refugees aspirations with EU tourism labour market needs.

Challenges of refugee integration in the EU labor market

Presentations

Key Insights

Underutilised Talent in the Tourism Workforce

Over 5.9 million Ukrainians have sought temporary protection in the EU. While 71% hold university degrees—mostly women—many are employed in low-skilled roles (e.g., cleaning, logistics, agriculture). Despite being digitally literate and professionally experienced, their skills remain vastly underused in the job market.

Barriers to Job Matching and Career Development

Key obstacles include:

1.  Low language proficiency
2. Lack of diploma recognition (nostrification)
3. Limited access to job-matching platforms
4. Unfamiliar hiring procedures
5. Mismatch between job offers and qualifications

Only 15% of refugees connect with formal job brokers. Most rely on informal networks, which contributes to poor integration into official employment pathways.

Refugee Employment Needs: Stability, Flexibility, and Support

Refugees seek jobs aligned with their skills, qualifications, and caregiving responsibilities (e.g., childcare). They ask for:

1. Language courses
2. Simplified recognition of qualifications
3. Legal guidance
4. Career counseling
5. Personalized job placement services

While many hope to return home, a large number are open to long-term integration if sustainable employment and support systems are in place.

Practical Tools and Methods

Access to Employment Services & Job Matching

A comprehensive strategy is applied to facilitate the labour market integration of Ukrainian refugees and other disadvantaged groups. Efforts begin with the promotion of formal employment services, aiming to raise awareness and streamline access through simplified procedures and user-friendly platforms. Personalised job-matching tools are utilised to align individual skills with suitable employment opportunities, particularly in sectors such as tourism.

Fast-Track Training & Qualification Recognition

Quick-start language and vocational training focus on job readiness and communication skills. Simultaneously, efforts are made to harmonise and simplify diploma recognition across the EU to reduce delays in accessing employment.

Family-Friendly Jobs & Career Stability

Flexible and family-oriented job options support women with caregiving responsibilities. At the same time, the strategy promotes stable, qualified employment to prevent underemployment and maintain skill value.

Integrated Support & Career Entry Pathways

Tailored career guidance and legal aid help individuals navigate complex employment systems. Structured entry programs—especially in tourism—offer temporary jobs with clear progression paths toward long-term integration.