On October 12, 2025, the talk show “Opinions” on RTR-Belarus made a claim about Ukrainian refugees that turns out to be false: “80% of Ukrainian refugees in Germany do not want to work. In the Netherlands and Poland, the numbers are only slightly better – more than 70% of these guests prefer to remain on welfare.” RTR-Belarus is a state-affiliated broadcaster operating in close alignment with the Belarusian government, which is widely regarded as politically aligned with Russia. Disclaimer: YouTube can audio-track the sound of a video and translate languages. That is how we were able to understand the originally Belarusian sentence.
Job aspirations in Germany
Contrary to the claim, the IAB-BAMF-SOEP survey 2023/2024 by the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees paints a very different picture. Among 94% of the working-age Ukrainian refugees in Germany who are not yet employed, job motivation is high: 78% state that they definitely or probably (16%) want to work in Germany. About half reported needing support to do so.
Barriers to Labour Market Entry
An IAB-BAMF-SOEP survey from 2025 shows that several factors slow down the labour market integration. In addition to limited German language skills, the recognition of professional qualifications remains a major obstacle. Furthermore, the IAB research report says most Ukrainian refugees in Germany are women with children, often single mothers, as many men are unable to leave Ukraine due to military conscription. Access to childcare is therefore crucial for employment. Timely access to healthcare also improves labour market participation. Compared to other refugee groups, the relatively higher average age of Ukrainian refugees further complicates integration.
Employment figures in Germany
According to the Central Register of Foreigners, the number of Ukrainian nationals living in Germany increased by around 1.2 million between February 2022 and October 2025, reaching approximately 1.4 million. The number of working-age Ukrainians registered with job centres and employment agencies rose to 518,000 by November 2025. More than half of those registered are officially considered unavailable for the labour market, for example, due to participation in language courses or vocational training.
In November 2025, around 206,000 working-age Ukrainians were registered as unemployed, representing 39.7%. At the same time, 311,500 Ukrainians were in social security-contributory employment, resulting in an employment rate of 37.4%. In August 2025, 667,000 Ukrainian nationals received basic income support. An international research by the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) finds only weak and inconclusive evidence that higher social benefits reduce employment among Ukrainian refugees.
Germany in the European Context
The same IAB study from 2024 places Germany in the middle range among European countries regarding the employment of Ukrainian refugees. The speed and sustainability of labour market integration depend on factors such as job vacancies, childcare availability, and national integration policies, which vary widely across Europe.
The Netherlands
In the Netherlands, the employment rate of Ukrainian refugees has risen significantly in recent years. According to Statistics Netherlands, the employment rate in May 2025 was around 60%, significantly higher than in 2023 (50%). A key factor is that Ukrainian refugees don’t require a work permit in the Netherlands, simplifying access to employment.
Employment in Poland
Since the start of the war (24.02.2022), approximately 7.9 million people have crossed from Ukraine into Poland. Around two million applied for temporary protection under the PESEL system, with about 967,600 actively registered by December 2025. PESEL status grants access to employment, healthcare, education, accommodation, and financial aid. Temporary protection in Poland grants free healthcare, access to education, and family reunification.
Is the work offer taken on?
The results of a study from Deloitte for UNHCR show that the presence of Ukrainian refugees in Poland generated 2.7% of Poland’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2024. This number accounts for more workers and risen productivity. In the age group 15 to 59/64, 75% of Polish citizens were employed in the second quarter of 2024. In the same age group, the employment rate of Ukrainian refugees was at 69%, only slightly lower than the Polish rate. Although it must be taken into consideration that the employment rate for female refugees in the span of 25 to 39 dropped in comparison to different age groups and Polish women. The study suspects insufficient accessibility of childcare as the reason. Results from the OECD’s International Migration Outlook showed that 78.4% were employed in total in 2024.
Public Perceptions
In Germany, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated in 2024, according to Tagesschau, refugees should either take up employment or return to safe areas in western Ukraine. In Poland, an opinion poll conducted by the Mieroszewski Centre in late 2025 showed mixed attitudes: 25% of respondents viewed Ukrainians positively, while 30% held negative views. More than half (51%) believed that the level of support provided to refugees was too high.
Conclusion
The claim that 80% of Ukrainian refugees in Germany do not want to work is false. 94% of unemployed Ukrainian refugees express a clear intention to work, while the employment rate stands at 37.4%. Similarly, high employment rates in the Netherlands and Poland demonstrate that Ukrainian refugees are largely engaged in work and contribute economically. The ifo Institute shows job opportunities matter more than welfare benefits in refugees’ choice of destination countries. However, it must be considered that work morale cannot be measured.
RESEARCH | ARTICLE © Marie Friedrich, Malin Schröder and Lilli Zenth, Stuttgart Media University, Germany
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