This report, published in July 2023, explores legal provisions on the employment of refugees from Ukraine who have settled in Romania, the role of local employment agencies in facilitating their integration on the labour market, the current state of art, and the challenges these persons are facing when looking for a job.

The methodology consisted of desk-research and a survey via questionnaire answered by 252 people displaced from Ukraine, the majority of them (approximately 76%) with a university degree.

Background information:

In April 2023 the system of state subventions for accommodation and food provided to those displaced from Ukraine (the so-called 50/20 mechanism) was been replaced by a scheme that conditioned the receipt of state financial support upon the active search for employment (registration with the local employment agency and compliance with the employment support provided) and upon enrollment of recipients' children in the mainstream education system.

Key findings:

• 17 742 people displaced from Ukraine were reported as being registered with the employment agencies as of July 2023, and 1 180 have found a job as a result of the employment support services.
• 7 972 employment contracts of persons from Ukraine were active as of 21 June 2023.
• The survey revealed that though currently only 24.7% of respondents have a job in Romania, 61.9% are willing to secure employed in the next 3 months.
• Only 31.5% of the respondents who are employed work in professions that match their skills and training.
• The main barriers reported in employment were the lack of language skills and caring responsibilites for dependent children aged 0 – 6.

The full report is available online in Romanian.