Recent findings reveal that unemployment rates for Ukrainians in Austria are significantly higher than those for Austrian citizens, with figures showing 19% unemployment among Ukrainians compared to just 7% for locals.
According to a study by the Austrian Integration Fund, the employment situation for Ukrainian women has improved notably, with 48% now employed, up from just 10% in 2022. For men, the employment rate stands at 51%.
Language proficiency among Ukrainians in Austria has also seen progress. A majority of respondents reported being able to speak and write in German, with 30% indicating high proficiency and 38% at a basic level.
As of January 1, 2026, over 94,000 Ukrainians are residing in Austria, including those who have obtained temporary protection and earlier arrivals. Of this population, 61% are women and 39% are men. Additionally, 30% are under 20 years old, while 58% fall within the working age of 20 to 59 years. More than half of the Ukrainian community in Austria resides in Vienna.
As a point of reference, Eurostat reported that by the end of 2025, 4.35 million Ukrainians in the EU were under temporary protection. Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic are the top three countries hosting Ukrainian refugees, while in relation to their own populations, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovakia rank highest.
Notably, nearly half a million Ukrainians have departed from Germany after securing temporary protection there.
Unemployment rates among Ukrainians in Austria are notably higher than those of local citizens, despite improvements in employment and language skills. As of early 2026, over 94,000 Ukrainians reside in Austria, with a significant portion living in Vienna.
Source: Kurier