Ukrainians Find Work In Germany Much Faster Than Other Refugees

By February 7, 1.2 million refugees from Ukraine had arrived in the FRG.

Refugees from Ukraine find jobs in Germany much faster than other refugee groups. This was reported on Tuesday, February 17, dpa news agency, citing the results of a study conducted by the Institute for Labor Market and Professions (IAB).

According to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), among working-age Ukrainians who arrived in Germany in the first six months after the outbreak of full-scale war, in the summer of 2025, that is, after 3.5 years, more than 50% were employed. Refugees from other countries who arrived in Germany in 2015 took six years to reach this level of employment, DW reports.

Researchers attribute Ukrainian refugees' success in integration to the fact that they immediately began receiving "civilian allowance" (Bürgergeld) and had direct access to the labor market, language courses and employment centers.

According to the German Interior Ministry, 1.2 million refugees from Ukraine had arrived in the country by February 7.

The employment rate of refugees from Ukraine is still significantly lower than the average for able-bodied German residents (68%). Experts note that this is partly due to psychological traumas associated with war and migration.

Another problem remains the gender imbalance. Among male Ukrainian refugees in the FRG, the employment rate is 64%, while among women it is only 55%. One of the reasons is that many Ukrainian women arrived together with young children. According to BAMF, in September 2025, only 21% of Ukrainian women without partners and arriving with children under the age of three were employed. Women are also more likely to be employed in the service sector and work part-time.

But also a full-time employed Ukrainian refugee has an average salary that is only 72% of the average salary of a working German. This is because many Ukrainians are employed in low-paying fields. Therefore, despite progress in integration, the extent to which Ukrainians in the FRG receive civil benefits remains high.

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