The number of Ukrainian refugees working in Europe continues to rise. At the beginning of the full-scale war, only 10% of refugees were employed, but soon this figure may exceed 50%. This is largely due to young Ukrainians who are finishing their education and entering the labor market. This was reported by analyst Oleksiy Kush.
This is reported by Finway
It is estimated that there are currently about five million Ukrainians in the EU, although the actual number of refugees may be significantly higher. At present, approximately 1.6 million people are employed, which accounts for over 37% of the total number. Ukrainians are making a significant contribution to the economies of the countries where they have settled.
Gross Production of Ukrainians in EU Countries
Analysts suggest introducing a new indicator – the Gross Community Product (GCP) – to assess the contribution made by Ukrainian refugees to the economy. The highest GCP of Ukrainians is observed in Germany, where it amounts to about $52 billion, as there are over a million Ukrainian refugees living there. Poland ranks second with a GCP of Ukrainians at nearly $17 billion, while in Ireland, due to the high per capita gross product, this figure exceeds $10 billion.
Overall, the total GCP of Ukrainians in the EU is estimated at $175 billion, which is almost equivalent to Ukraine’s GDP for 2024, which is $188 billion with a population of 28-30 million people.
Dynamics of Refugee Return
Interestingly, while in September 2022 about 68% of refugees planned to return to Ukraine, by the end of 2024 this share had decreased to 57%. This fact indicates that many Ukrainians are choosing to remain in EU countries, hoping for a better economic future.