# After fleeing war, Ukrainians struggle to settle around Europe
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2022-10-10
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: Struggles of Ukrainian Refugees in Europe
Meta Description: Ukrainian refugees in Europe face challenges finding jobs as they flee war-torn regions, navigating bureaucratic hurdles and economic crises.
URL: https://financedigest.com/after-fleeing-war-ukrainians-struggle-to-settle-around-europehtml

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By Corina Pons and Catarina Demony

MADRID/LISBON (Reuters) – Ukrainian psychologist Tatyana Bogkova was on a birthday trip in Poland with her mother and four-year-old daughter when Russian troops invaded her homeland earlier this year.

With shells raining on Kharkiv city and her policeman husband staying to fight, the 32-year-old chose to take refuge in Spain, where she quickly translated her CV and took language lessons in hope of a job.

She is still searching.

I am not afraid of any job but I would like to do what I learned,” Bogkova said in a Madrid cafe near a Catholic Church aid centre, which together with a family [offered them a free house](https://www.financedigest.com/discount-dining-clubs-tastecard-and-gourmet-society-grow-their-offering-as-chimichanga-and-spaghetti-house-both-sign-up.html "Discount dining clubs tastecard and Gourmet Society grow their offering as Chimichanga and Spaghetti House both sign up") until December.

Every day I look for ideas on how to work while my daughter is at school,” added the Ukrainian, who at least cleans a cafeteria fortnightly with her mother and also volunteers on [social media](https://www.financedigest.com/saudi-snitching-app-turns-citizens-into-social-media-police.html "Saudi snitching app turns citizens into social media police") content for a charity.

Bogkova and her family are among 7.6 million Ukrainian refugees scattered around [Europe since Russian](https://www.financedigest.com/exclusive-europe-ready-for-baltics-emergency-switch-off-from-russian-grid.html "Exclusive: Europe ready for Baltics emergency switch-off from Russian grid") President Vladimir Putin sent troops over the border and heavily bombarded cities like Kharkiv.

The Ukrainians were [initially welcomed with open arms into shelters and homes](https://www.financedigest.com/taylor-fay-homes-recruit-cordant-projects-for-innovative-property-initiative.html "Taylor Fay homes recruit Cordant Projects for innovative property initiative") across Europe, where authorities skipped bureaucratic hurdles at a speed that raised eyebrows among refugees from Syria, Africa and elsewhere.

Yet as the [war drags into its eighth month](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-action-wanes-at-u-n-to-isolate-russia-almost-six-months-into-ukraine-war.html "Analysis: Action wanes at U.N. to isolate Russia almost six months into Ukraine war") and their hopes of a quick return recede, many feel in limbo and are struggling to make ends meet.

[Europe’s cost-of-living crisis](https://www.financedigest.com/europes-energy-crisis-and-the-nuclear-path-out.html "Europe’s energy crisis and the nuclear path out"), including soaring energy bills just as winter looms, has exacerbated their plight.

“Initially a lot of people came (to Portugal) feeling depressed because of the war … Now their main issue is the situation here,” said Ihor Ostrovskyi, a 57-year-old academic from Lviv who fled to Portugal shortly after the invasion.

He works at the front desk of a huge warehouse that is Lisbon’s refugee centre and said most of those coming in [need urgent](https://www.financedigest.com/new-uk-pm-will-need-to-take-urgent-action-on-energy-bills-ofgem-ceo.html "New UK PM will need to take urgent action on energy bills – Ofgem CEO") help finding a job or a house.

Nobody knew this was going to last this long,” he said of Portuguese [families’ waning enthusiasm to open homes](https://www.financedigest.com/family-homes-in-colchester-countryside-coming-soon.html "Family Homes In Colchester Countryside Coming Soon") for free.

‘EXISTENTIAL EMERGENCY’

Portugal has taken more than 52,000 Ukrainians, with authorities running programmes to help them pay rent and find houses in a process that some found slow.

Spain has taken in 142,000 under temporary [protection and guaranteed them healthcare and employment services](https://www.financedigest.com/protecting-the-uk-financial-services-sector-from-cyberattacks-now-and-in-2023.html "Protecting the UK financial services sector from cyberattacks now and in 2023") from day one, advantages that other refugee groups do not have as quickly.

But the refugees have struggled to find decently-paid jobs, especially those matching their skill sets.

Many [lack the local language skills](https://www.financedigest.com/lack-of-collaboration-and-skills-shortage-is-limiting-organisations-ability-to-meet-ifrs-9-requirements.html "Lack of collaboration and skills shortage is limiting organisations’ ability to meet IFRS 9 requirements") and most are women, many single mothers, because Ukrainian men of fighting age largely stayed behind. Those who do find work are often forced into low-wage [sectors such as tourism](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-tourism-sector-already-reaping-the-benefits-of-brexit.html "UK TOURISM SECTOR ALREADY REAPING THE BENEFITS OF BREXIT"), agriculture and construction.

In Spain, [official data shows only 13% of 90,000 Ukrainians of working](https://www.financedigest.com/eu-us-working-on-deal-to-make-ev-minerals-eligible-for-tax-credits-eu-official.html "EU, US working on deal to make EV minerals eligible for tax credits -EU official") age have a job. Some 61% of arrivals had been in [higher education](https://www.financedigest.com/five-reasons-to-start-saving-early-for-higher-education.html "Five Reasons to Start Saving Early for Higher Education"), with 28% possessing degrees or professional qualifications, most typically economists, engineers, software developers and entrepreneurs.

In Portugal, job centre IEFP has only 5,523 [Ukrainian professionals listed available to work](https://www.financedigest.com/ukrainian-women-fleeing-war-find-welcome-and-work-in-eastern-europe.html "Ukrainian women fleeing war find welcome, and work, in Eastern Europe").

Ever-welcoming Germany took in nearly 1 million Ukrainians between February and September but less than [10% have jobs](https://www.financedigest.com/britains-purplebricks-to-cut-more-than-10-of-jobs-the-times.html "Britain’s Purplebricks to cut more than 10% of jobs – The Times"), according to the Federal Employment Agency, although almost 340,000 Ukrainians are registered as seeking work.

Agency spokesperson Susanne Eikemeier said limiting factors were lack of childcare, difficulty recognising foreign diplomas, and language issues. [Since many were experiencing “an existential emergency” after fleeing war](https://www.financedigest.com/euro-zone-economy-sentiment-rises-in-dec-first-time-since-start-of-ukraine-war.html "Euro zone economy sentiment rises in Dec, first time since start of Ukraine war"), she added, finding work was not always a priority.

In Portugal’s [top holiday region](https://www.financedigest.com/high-energy-shockwave-therapy-units-market-end-user-demand-by-types-regions-top-players-service-provides-regional-outlook-and-forecast-to-2028-2.html "High Energy Shockwave Therapy Units Market End-User Demand by Types, Regions, Top Players, Service Provides, Regional Outlook and Forecast to 2028"), the Algarve, Maria Joao de Deus set up a group to help Ukrainian refugees in the municipality of Lagoa. But accommodation dwindled as dwellings were turned over to tourists during the summer and now [jobs are shrinking anyway as the holiday season ends](https://www.financedigest.com/hp-to-cut-about-12-jobs-by-end-of-fiscal-2025.html "HP to cut about 12% jobs by end of fiscal 2025").

There are people [returning to Ukraine due](https://www.financedigest.com/final-salary-pensions-at-risk-due-to-new-normal-of-sluggish-economy-and-low-returns.html "Final salary pensions at risk due to ‘New Normal’ of sluggish economy and low returns") to lack of opportunities,” she said.

DEPRESSION

The Spanish International Protection Unit, which cares for migrants, is offering language courses and employment programmes in an effort to “adjust [expectations” to reality and facilitate integration](https://www.financedigest.com/application-specific-integrated-circuits-market-expected-to-reach-usd-33545-7-million-by-2026-tmr.html "Application Specific Integrated Circuits Market Expected To Reach USD 33,545.7 Million By 2026 – TMR"), said general director Amapola Blasco.

But many Ukrainians skip classes or turn down jobs as they do not intend to stay long, she added.

Many of them are not willing to work in the catering [service or care sectors](https://www.financedigest.com/decline-in-german-services-sector-eases-raising-hopes-for-milder-recession-pmi.html "Decline in German services sector eases, raising hopes for milder recession -PMI"), which is where it is relatively easy to find a job even if your language skills are limited,” she said. These [jobs do not meet](https://www.financedigest.com/amazon-will-not-cut-jobs-in-italy-unions-say-after-meeting.html "Amazon will not cut jobs in Italy, unions say after meeting") their expectations.

Though 2,000 Spanish companies [made jobs](https://www.financedigest.com/uks-made-com-to-cut-jobs-and-launch-strategic-review.html "UK’s Made.com to cut jobs and launch strategic review") available to Ukrainians, few were able to meet the often very specific requirements. The administration worked well, they quickly had all the permits, but the reality is that there are no suitable positions for them,” said Gonzaga Avello, a consultancy firm founder who tried to help in the [hiring process](https://www.financedigest.com/three-ways-that-female-entrepreneurs-can-supercharge-their-hiring-process.html "Three ways that female entrepreneurs can supercharge their hiring process").

Without a job, renting becomes harder.

In Portugal, Ukrainian travel agent Oksana Voloshyna, 42, would like to [stay until it is safe](https://www.financedigest.com/the-three-must-haves-of-cyber-security-that-you-need-to-stay-cyber-safe.html "The three “must haves” of cyber security that you need to stay cyber safe") to return home but she is intimidated by the country’s bureaucracy.

Refugees were able to register for temporary [protection online](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-opposition-calls-for-better-online-protections-for-children.html "UK opposition calls for better online protections for children") but most only have an e-mail confirmation.

The [future is unpredictable in Ukraine so we would like to have something more predictable](https://www.financedigest.com/heightened-interest-in-global-cuisines-to-brighten-the-expansion-prospects-of-herbs-and-spices-manufacturers-industry-predicted-to-rise-at-3-6-cagr-future-market-insights-inc.html "Heightened Interest in Global Cuisines to Brighten the Expansion Prospects of Herbs and Spices Manufacturers: Industry Predicted to Rise at 3.6% CAGR | Future Market Insights Inc. ") here in Portugal,” she said. “I don’t want to be an illegal migrant.”

The Iberian nations have [given one-year protection](https://www.financedigest.com/what-kind-of-legal-protection-are-trade-secrets-given-its-changing.html "What kind of legal protection are Trade Secrets given? It’s changing…") to Ukrainians, though that can be extended.

Katherine, 34, a model and clothes designer, was recovering from [breast cancer](https://www.financedigest.com/pmrs-report-on-global-triple-negative-breast-cancer-treatment-market.html "PMR’s Report on Global Triple Negative Breast Cancer Treatment Market") surgery when Odessa came under attack. Now she lives in a refugee centre on Spain’s Gran Canaria island with her 12-year-old son and is receiving medical assistance.

Despite suffering depression, she is working on her [Spanish and trying to find a job in tourism](https://www.financedigest.com/viva-el-vino-perfect-spanish-homes-for-wine-lovers-as-unwto-raises-a-glass-to-wine-tourism.html "Viva el vino! Perfect Spanish homes for wine lovers as UNWTO raises a glass to wine tourism"), so far without success.

“I had a dream life,” she said, strolling on a nearby beach.

“Now I do not have a home.”

(Reporting by Corina Pons Rodriguez in Madrid, Catarina Demony in Lisbon and Sarah Marsh in Berlin, editing by Aislinn Laing and Andrew Cawthorne)


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