Perspectives of Ukrainian displaced persons in Austria and Europe: Key stakeholders addressed challenges and solutions

Professional integration is the greatest challenge for displaced Ukrainians abroad

11/14/20242 min read

On November 6, the Professional Integration HUB held a Stakeholders Meeting focused on identifying the challenges and barriers that Ukrainian professionals in Austria face on their path to professional integration and exploring solutions.

We are proud to have co-organized this significant event, “Perspectives of Ukrainian Displaced Persons in Austria and Europe,” together with ERSTE Foundation and Dr. Judith Kohlenberger.

This event brought together leading representatives from ministries, international organizations, NGOs, and businesses to address both challenges and opportunities for integrating Ukrainians who have relocated to Europe due to the war.

Key topics included Ukrainian professionals‘ access to the labor market, language and bureaucratic barriers, community integration, and long-term residency perspectives.

During the meeting, Olena Bekreniova and Olga Olefirova, co-founders of the European Centre for Freedom and Independence, gave a compelling presentation on the Professional Integration HUB program, showcasing its impressive results and highlighting the key challenges that displaced Ukrainian professionals face in Austria. The presentation demonstrated the program’s ongoing impact and the solutions it offers for addressing the difficulties of professional integration.

“This event is essential as it brought together experts from various fields working with displaced Ukrainians. Integration challenges, particularly professional integration, are timely and significant for all stakeholders. It is crucial to unite efforts to overcome these issues. Only together can we achieve effective outcomes,” said Olga Olefirova.

During the event, Dr. Judith Kohlenberger presented an insightful study on the integration of Ukrainians into the labor markets of Austria and the EU, which highlighted the current status and challenges they face.

We are also proud that our flagship initiative, the Professional Integration HUB, was met with positive feedback and valuable recommendations. The HUB continues to be an important platform for Ukrainian professionals integrating into Austria’s professional landscape.

Photos: Valerie Maltseva