Employment barriers and labour market integration of Ukrainian migrants in the European Union

This article examines the labour market integration of Ukrainian migrants in EU member states as a consequence of forced displacement following Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Unlike most existing studies, which document employment status as a binary outcome, this paper focuses on the quality of integration. The empirical basis comprises data from an original online survey of 256 Ukrainians residing in EU countries between May and October 2025. An Integration Index (I int ) was developed, combining a binary employment indicator with a multi-dimensional quality assessment across three dimensions: formal-legal, professional-economic, and socio-psychological. The overall employment rate was 76.2%; however, 42.58% of employed respondents were over-qualified for their positions, revealing a gap between quantitative and qualitative integration outcomes. A regression model (R² = 0.813; F = 106.48; p < 0.001) identified satisfaction with the benefits package (b = 0.136) and job–qualification match (b = 0.1068) as the primary predictors, while the legality of employment was statistically non-significant. K-means clustering identified three integration groups: low (34.6%), medium (36.8%), and high (28.6%). Age was a significant predictor (F = 5.691; p < 0.001), with integration peaking in the 30–40-year cohort; educational attainment and length of residence had no significant effect. Receipt of social transfers was associated with substantially lower I int (0.458 vs. 1.065; d = 0.952). An inverse relationship between integration level and return intentions was confirmed (F = 4.662; p < 0.05). Integration also varied by country of destination (F = 9.19; p < 0.001), with the lowest levels in Germany and Austria and the highest in Central Europe, the Baltic states, and the Nordic countries. The findings underscore the importance of prioritising qualification recognition, language support, and anti-discrimination measures in EU integration policy.