Employment Integration of Ukrainian Refugees in the Netherlands: Statistics and Trends

More than half of Ukrainian refugees residing in the Netherlands are currently engaged in salaried positions, as per recent data released by Statistics Netherlands (CBS). The statistics reveal a substantial level of integration of Ukrainian refugees into the Dutch labor market subsequent to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in late February 2022.

As of November 1, approximately 55% of the estimated 78,000 Ukrainian refugees aged between 15 and 65 were found to be in paid employment. This represents a noteworthy increase from the 44% recorded a year earlier. Notably, Ukrainian refugees, who have been displaced since the onset of Russia's invasion in February 2022, benefit from a unique status that exempts them from the requirement of obtaining work permits for employment in the Netherlands, setting them apart from other migrants outside the European Union or European Free Trade Association.

Breaking down the employment dynamics, a majority (53%) of refugees worked full-time, defined as 35 hours or more per week, and 15% were engaged in employment lasting 30 to 35 hours weekly. The primary employment categories included on-call workers (26%), those employed through temp agencies (39%), and individuals with other temporary contracts (30%).

The employment rate demonstrated variability across age groups, with refugees aged 25 to 45 exhibiting the highest rate at 59%, while the youngest cohort (15 to 25 years old) recorded the lowest rate at 49%. The distribution of employment between male and female refugees was relatively even.

In terms of sectors, business services, encompassing temp agencies, accounted for the employment of 51% of the refugees. Meanwhile, 32% were involved in the trade, transportation, or hospitality sectors, indicating a 5-percentage point increase from the preceding year. Conversely, business services experienced a 5-point decline in employment.

Furthermore, it is noteworthy that Ukrainian refugees in the Netherlands display a tendency to switch employers frequently. Among those employed on both November 1, 2022, and November 1, 2023, 41% had undergone changes in their employment during that period.