Half of the people who fled to Germany shortly after the start of the Ukrainian warhas a job today. This is based on a current analysis by the research institute
Federal Employment Agency and the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bamf). They analyzed data from all Ukrainians of working age who fled to Germany in the first six months of the war.
According to the information, the speed at which war refugees are leaving the
Ukraine got a job, higher than in previous refugee movements. This is mainly because Ukrainian refugees do not have to go through the asylum procedure and are allowed to work immediately. They also have a relatively high level of education. With other refugee movements, such a high employment rate was only achieved after a good six years in Germany, it was said.
Many receive state benefits despite having a job
Nevertheless, the employment rate of Ukrainians is still significantly lower than that of the overall working-age population – which was around 68 percent in June last year. However, it should be taken into account that due to the Exit restrictions for men subject to military service There are many women among the refugees who look after their underage children alone.
According to the information, in September 2025 only 21 percent of Ukrainian women with small children under the age of three and without a partner were employed. The analysis does not contain current figures on self-employment among Ukrainian refugees. In 2023 it was around 5.3 percent.
Refugee Ukrainian women in particular are often employed part-time. Therefore, the proportion of those receiving state benefits remains high. According to data from the Institute for Labor Market and Occupational Research, 41 percent of Ukrainian refugees with jobs lived in a household that received additional benefits. This proportion is particularly high in families with children, according to the analysis.
You can read all current developments in the war against Ukraine here.
