A lack of childcare, dense bureaucracy and uncertain residency prospects are major obstacles for Ukrainian refugees seeking to integrate in Germany, a new study released on Monday found.
The study, conducted by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) and the Institute for Employment Research (IAB), also found that Ukrainian refugees are under greater psychological strain than the rest of the population, likely due to their experiences of war and fleeing their country.
The study is based on a representative survey of Ukrainian refugees conducted between July 2023 and January 2024.
It found that the lack of childcare provided by the state was a major obstacle for Ukrainian refugees seeking employment in Germany, who are predominantly women. Problems finding a job and getting professional qualifications recognized were also mentioned frequently by respondents.
More than half of those surveyed said they wanted to stay in Germany permanently. This figure varies depending on when people arrived in the country, with 60% of those who arrived between the end of February 2022 and the end of May 2022 saying they want to stay permanently, compared to 69% of those who arrived after May 2022.
Some 90% of those surveyed said an end to the war would be a prerequisite for returning home, while 60% cited an improvement in the economic situation in Ukraine as an important factor in their decision.
Nataliia Lichkonenko, who fled Ukraine to Germany in 2022 and is involved in a project for female refugees, said the shock triggered by the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 has had a lasting impact on her and many of her compatriots, making long-term life planning difficult.
Ukrainian refugees do not have to apply for asylum in the European Union. They are admitted under the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive, which was implemented shortly after the start of the war and has been extended several times. It is currently in place until March 4, 2026.
The employment rate among Ukrainian nationals in Germany has increased, reaching 31.7% in November, 6.6 percentage points higher than it was a year previously.
According to the IAB, 98,000 Ukrainian citizens attended a so-called integration course in January, which is primarily aimed at teaching them German.
