Ukrainian displaced persons in Upper Austria: majority remains permanent!

A current study by the Austrian integration fund shows that Ukrainian displaced persons have made significant progress in Austria. Of the respondents, over 44 % stated that they were now employed. The increase in Ukrainian women in professional life is particularly noteworthy: the number of working women rose to 10 % in 2022 in 2022, so it has grown to 43 % in 2024. The most common areas of work are cleaning, trading and healthcare. This was reported by the Austrian Institute for Family Research at the University of Vienna on behalf of the integration fund.

In addition, the surveys show a significant decline in the intentions of the return. While in 2022 30 % of Ukrainian displaced people were still planning to return to Ukraine, it is only 3 % in the current year. A crucial factor here is successful integration into the Austrian labor market and learning the German language. More and more Ukrainians now regularly speak German at a level that influences their life satisfaction - 66 % are satisfied with their life situation in Austria if they consider their language skills high, according to the ÖIF.

integration and support for Ukrainian displaced people

In order to facilitate Ukrainian refugees, numerous programs are available. Since the beginning of the war, the ÖIF has offered over 55,600 German courses, which are highly valued by the displaced persons. In addition, the organization supports with advice on professional recognition and starting the job market. Participants in the German courses receive information about vacancies and possible career opportunities for large companies such as Lidl, Rewe and Ikea. These measures were perceived as helpful by the respondents and show that the admission to society successfully progresses, as well as ooe.orf.at and Integrationsfonds.at reported.