De-Skilling of Ukrainian refugees: A Longitudinal Perspective and Transatlantic Comparison

• In Event: International Migration Section Refereed Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): 15. Immigrant labor market and earnings

Abstract

Following the large-scale displacement caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Europe experienced the largest movement of displaced persons since the Second World War (ÖAW 2022). Austria emerged as a proportionally significant destination country, with approximately 88,000 Ukrainian citizens residing in Austria by early 2025, which equals approximately 1% of Austria’s overall population. Initial evidence from 2022–2023 indicated substantial occupational deskilling among displaced Ukrainians in this region, particularly among women, despite comparatively high levels of formal education (Aigner et.al 2024).
This paper presents findings from a longitudinal study conducted in Upper Austria (2022 and 2025) that examines whether occupational mismatch persists after a longer period of residence. Drawing on Chiswick’s model of immigrant occupational mobility, we assume a U-shaped path characterized by initial downgrading upon labor market entry. We analyze how language proficiency, social networks, age, gender, and family situation shape deskilling experiences over time.
To contextualize these findings, we contrast patterns observed in Upper Austria with available labor market data on displaced Ukrainians in the United States. Similar to Austria, Ukrainian refugees in the U.S. exhibit high educational levels and substantial labor market participation, yet existing evidence suggests persistent risks of occupational downgrading due to limited recognition of prior qualifications.
Methodologically, the study combines a rapid-response paper-based survey (2022) with a web-based follow-up survey (2025) targeting this hard-to-reach population. Preliminary results indicate that occupational mismatch remains prevalent, though slightly reduced compared to the immediate post-arrival phase. While language proficiency and social networks do not emerge as strong predictors, age appears to play a more decisive role in labor market integration paths.

Authors

• Petra Aigner, University of Linz, Austria

• Andreas Zemsauer, Johannes Kepler University