Labour market integration of Ukrainian refugees in Italy

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.