WYKWALIFIKOWANI UCHODŹCY Z UKRAINY WYZWANIEM DLA RYNKU PRACY
SKILLED REFUGEES FROM UKRAINE A CHALLENGE FOR LABOUR MARKET

Summary/Abstract: RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: New knowledge on using the qualifications of refugees from Ukraine in the Polish labour market. The article fills the research gap related to the employment of forced migrants according to their education. It points to the challenges in this issue. It is a new perspective. THE RESEARCH PROBLEMS AND METHODS: The study was conducted in March-April 2022 among 1,481 refugees from Ukraine in Opolskie Voivodeship. A survey questionnaire prepared in Ukrainian was used. The data were collected using the pen-and-paper interview (PAPI) method in municipal offices in the region, as well as in collective accommodation centres. THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: The article began with a review of the literature relating to research on the use of refugee qualifications. The research method was then discussed and the study group was characterised. The next section discusses the results of the research and includes the determinants and challenges of refugee employment from the perspective of the Opolskie labour market. It concludes with a summary containing recommendations. RESEARCH RESULTS: Almost half of the refugees had a tertiary education. Their Polish language is poor (30.7%) or even very poor (50.8%). Despite that, almost half of them (49.1%) want to take up employment; among those with very good language skills, the figure is 29.4%. Moreover, 8.4% of those with poor language skills are already working. Among the learned professions are economists, psychologists and, educators and engineers. CONCLUSIONS, INNOVATIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The research brings new knowledge on the challenges of utilising the skills of refugees from Ukraine. The barriers were poor knowledge of the Polish language and the refugees’ assumed impermanence of their stay (most respondents planned to return to Ukraine).

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