Refugees face significant barriers to accessing and participating in the labour markets of receiving countries, often resulting in underemployment. Various reasons for these barriers include language difficulties, educational challenges, and restrictions on access to the labour market. While these challenges are common across many refugee groups, contextual factors significantly influence their ability to: 1) access the labour market, 2) find work that matches their qualifications, and 3) build a career over time. However, there is limited understanding of how refugees' careers develop over time.
In our study, we examine these challenges through the example of Ukrainian refugees in Austria. This group is particularly noteworthy because their situation differs from that of previous cohorts. This distinction arises from their immediate labour market access, granted under the European Union’s (EU) Temporary Protection Directive (TPD). Our aim is to understand how career transitions for Ukrainian refugees are shaped and how contextual factors within the EU impact their entry into the labour market and career development.
Drawing on career transition (CT) literature and theory, we analyze the current situation of Ukrainian refugees in Austria, examining different types of career transitions as refugees change geographic locations and often their industry and/or occupation. Consequently, our research question is: “How does the immediate labour market access of Ukrainian refugees in Austria impact their career transitions?”
We address this research question using qualitative methods, including semi-structured interviews with 13 members of support organizations and 20 Ukrainian refugees in Austria. These interviews offer insights into the refugees' experiences and challenges in navigating the Austrian labour market.
While immediate labour market entry may appear advantageous and a privilege for Ukrainians, our data suggest it can be a double-edged sword regarding their future careers in Austria. Key findings indicate that Ukrainian refugees face challenges similar to those encountered by other refugee groups, such as language acquisition, societal integration, and recognition of qualifications. However, their immediate labour market access introduces additional complexities, conceptualized as "fields of tension"—including the balance between (1) work, (2) education, and (3) care obligations. Consequently, Ukrainian refugees must make difficult choices about which aspects to prioritize, as they cannot equally focus on all three areas simultaneously. Moreover, the interviews reveal that Ukrainian refugees exhibit distinct behaviors compared to previous cohorts; they are notably better connected, more informed, and often highly qualified, leading to a more targeted search for employment that aligns with their skills and qualifications.
Thus, adopting a broader perspective on the challenges and issues faced by Ukrainians in Austria regarding career transitions helps build knowledge for future situations where refugees and receiving societies encounter immediate labour market access. This is the core idea of our work.
