Refugees find employment in very different settlement contexts
Ukrainian refugees have settled in various locations across Estonia, driven by housing shortages and steep rents in the capital city. However, this spatial distribution does not adversely affect their job prospects, and employment levels are higher compared to Nordic countries. Furthermore, whether residing in the capital city, Tallinn, smaller urban areas, or non-metropolitan regions, refugees exhibit similar probabilities of finding employment within the first year of arrival. However, employment prospects are lower in traditional industrial regions but higher in second-tier cities. The presence of a higher proportion of Ukrainian co-ethnics in the neighborhood does not enhance refugees' entry into the labor market. Furthermore, there are no significant variations in getting a job based on the main population characteristics, except for the presence of children in the family. For men, having children increases the likelihood of employment, while for women, having children decreases the probability of securing employment. This underscores the importance of tailoring economic integration policies to address the specific needs of the largest refugee group from Ukraine, namely women with children.
This policy brief is produced as part of the INFLUX project.
Read more: INFLUX project webpage
