Most refugees from Ukraine who have found employment in the Czech Republic work in large companies with over 250 employees. Almost a third of them work there. Most often, they perform manual and auxiliary work, mainly as operators of machinery and equipment. This is based on an analysis prepared by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.

Almost a quarter, 24 percent of refugees, work in companies with 25 to 100 employees—less than a fifth work in medium-sized companies with 100 to 250 workers.

Forty-four percent of the positions they hold are machine and equipment operators, and another 36 percent work as auxiliary and unskilled workers. “In total, these two occupations qualify for over 80 percent of all positions for which Czech employers hire refugees,” the analysis added.

There are more reasons why refugees work in unskilled positions when 35 percent of them are university educated, and 32 percent are those with higher vocational education or a high school diploma. Firstly, there is a lack of knowledge of Czech for skilled jobs and problems with recognizing qualifications.

Only 16 percent of refugees worked in the same profession before they left Ukraine. However, most of them are people who have already worked there in low-skilled positions. Another reason why refugees hold lower-skilled jobs is that they want to return home and see their work here as temporary.

Regarding occupations, refugees find most employment in the administrative and support activities, manufacturing and transport, and storage sectors. Only behind them are construction, which Czechs traditionally associate most with Ukrainians, trade and accommodation, and catering.

According to data from the Labour Office, 84 594 Ukrainian citizens found employment from the outbreak of the conflict until the end of June. Some have already returned home or left their jobs. As a result, 68 777 refugees worked in the Czech Republic with Ukraine at the end of June. According to the analysis, those who have not yet found a job are not working mainly due to their lack of language skills and care for small children.

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