ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses the impact of Russia’s full-scale invasion on Ukrainian-Polish and Ukrainian-German migration skill corridors. First, it looks at the living and economic situation of Ukrainian forced migrants in the Polish labour market. Poland has followed a ‘work first’ approach, prioritising immediate labour market access to facilitate rapid employment and self-sufficiency. It results in higher employment rates among Ukrainian forced migrants but there are also many cases of deskilling. Second, it explores the situation of Ukrainians in the German labour market. In contrast to Poland, Germany uses a ‘settle first’ policy, focusing on long-term stability through structured integration measures before encouraging full labour market participation which results in delays in labour market entry and lower employment rate. In both countries, barriers such as language proficiency, childcare access and diploma recognition limit skilled employment opportunities for Ukrainian forced migrants. Third, it examines the consequences of emigration for the Ukrainian labour market. These include challenges of skilled labour shortages, hindering the country’s recovery and economic development, while raising the risk of a long-term loss of human capital. The chapter concludes with a recommendation that destination countries balance migration policies addressing Ukrainian workers’ needs with support for Ukraine’s voluntary return efforts.
