Ukrainian refugees on the German labor market: Integration with noticeable progress

The integration of Ukrainian refugees into the German labor market is one of the greatest social challenges of recent years – and at the same time one of the most visible successes. According to the current IAB job survey, the proportion of employees in Germany who have fled Ukraine tripled between 2022 and the end of 2024. While only 0.2 percent of all employees came from Ukraine in 2022, by 2024 this figure had already risen to 0.6 percent – a total of around 242,000 people. This development demonstrates that labor market integration has gained significant momentum despite linguistic, cultural, and legal barriers. Small and medium-sized enterprises in particular are driving this change: Two-thirds of Ukrainian employees work in companies with 10 to 249 employees.

Small and medium-sized enterprises as drivers of integration

The figures clearly demonstrate that small and medium-sized businesses in particular are making a decisive contribution. While large corporations are often hesitant to hire Ukrainian refugees, smaller companies report a growing number of applications and successful hires. For example, 14 percent of all German companies had contact with Ukrainian applicants in 2024 – twice as many as in the previous year. Companies that are already recruiting are particularly active: 79 percent of them received applications, 69 percent conducted interviews, and 41 percent actually hired refugees. Micro-enterprises are also demonstrating their commitment – a quarter of them employed at least one refugee from Ukraine last year. This high level of willingness to integrate on the part of employers is an important signal that social openness and economic need go hand in hand here.

The “Job Turbo”: A building block for faster integration

Since the end of 2023, the Federal Employment Agency has been implementing the so-called "Job Turbo," a program designed to accelerate the placement of refugees in jobs. The goal is to bring people with sufficient German language skills into employment early on and, at the same time, promote professional qualifications. Although only around 9 percent of companies are aware of this program so far, its impact is already indirectly evident: More and more refugees are finding their way into work through job centers and training programs. For many Ukrainian refugees, language courses, further training, and targeted support are crucial for achieving long-term, stable employment. VisaGuard, in particular, observes that successful integration is not only achieved through rapid employment, but also through sustained support – legal, linguistic, and social.

Legal framework and possible setbacks

A look ahead, however, shows that integration cannot be taken for granted. According to the coalition agreement, from April 1, 2025, newly arriving Ukrainian refugees will be subject to the Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act – and thus face worse financial and support conditions than before. If this regulation is implemented, it could jeopardize the successes achieved so far. A key reason for many Ukrainians' rapid entry into the labor market was their early access to social benefits, counseling, and training through job centers. A deterioration in these conditions could slow the positive trend and affect both companies and refugees.

Conclusion: Integration needs stability and support

The tripling of the number of Ukrainian refugees employed in just two years is impressive evidence of effective labor market integration – especially when the legal framework, job centers, and employers work together. However, integration doesn't happen automatically. For these successes to continue, language training, legal counseling, and labor market-related training must continue to be consistently supported. For many refugees, work is the key to a new life in Germany – and for companies, it's an opportunity to attract urgently needed skilled workers. Integration can only succeed in the future if the legal and social framework remains stable.