Labour market integration of Ukrainian refugees in Italy

Alessandra Faggian, Alessandra Michelangeli and Kateryna Tkach
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Kateryna Tkach: Gran Sasso Science Institute

No 2025-15, Discussion Paper series in Regional Science & Economic Geography from Gran Sasso Science Institute, Social Sciences

Abstract: The full-scale invasion of Ukraine has induced a large influx of refugees from Ukraine to the European Union (EU), becoming the largest humanitarian crisis in Europe since the World War II. Despite a growing interest in the topic, little is known about Ukrainian refugees’ skills and their economic integration in the hosting countries. This paper provides novel evidence on this topic by analysing employment patterns and skills of displaced Ukrainians in Italy. Using primary data, our results show that previous employment and proficiency in Italian are essential for refugees’ current employment status. Despite their high educational attainment, professional downgrading seems to be widespread as refugees with tertiary education perceive themselves as overqualified for their jobs. Moreover, regional context, namely the presence of Ukrainian immigrant community, also plays a role in refugees’ employment outcomes and job-related perceptions. Our findings underscore the importance of skill recognition and language training in facilitating economic integration of refugees.

Keywords: forced migration; labour market inclusion; skill profiles; human capital; displaced persons (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F22 J24 J61 R23 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 34 pages
Date: 2025-02, Revised 2025-02
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cis, nep-mig and nep-uep
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ahy:wpaper:wp77

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