Europe earns more on Ukrainians than it spends - study

Since the outbreak of full-scale war, millions of Ukrainians have left the country, and now their contribution to the economies of host states has become tangible. While the European Union countries receive significant economic benefits from migrants, Ukraine faces the risk of losing human capital, which may affect its development in the long term.

This is stated in the analytical review of the Centre for Economic Research and Forecasting "Financial Pulse", UNIAN reports.

Millions of refugees have already been integrated into the EU

According to the National Bank of Ukraine, more than 4.2 million Ukrainian citizens have been granted temporary protection status in the EU. Many of them have already found jobs and have become part of the European economic system. According to Dilara Mustafayeva, head of the Centre's analytical department, Ukrainians pay taxes, participate in production and provide GDP growth in the countries where they have found asylum.

"For example, in 2024, the contribution of Ukrainians to GDP growth in Poland was 2.7 per cent," she specified.

There are more taxes than expenses

Mustafayeva also emphasises that countries such as Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia already receive more tax revenue from Ukrainians than they spend on supporting refugees. This speaks to the rapid economic integration of forced migrants and their usefulness to the EU economy.

Nevertheless, many Ukrainians, despite their high level of education, work in jobs that do not require qualifications. The reasons are the language barrier and lack of recognition of Ukrainian diplomas. According to the Centre for Economic Strategy, almost 70% of migrants have higher education.

Mustafayeva points out that on average, the salaries of Ukrainians abroad are one-third lower than those of local workers. Even so, their presence has a significant impact on the EU economy.

Risks for Ukraine: loss of GDP and human resources

For Ukraine, the departure of millions of citizens threatens not only current but also strategic problems. According to recent surveys, only 43 per cent of migrants would consider returning home, compared to almost 75 per cent in 2022.

If even some Ukrainians do not return, the country's economy could lose up to 7.8 per cent of GDP annually," Mustafayeva warns.

In addition, mass migration exacerbates labour shortages and accelerates the demographic crisis.

What is needed to bring people back

Experts emphasise the need to create conditions to encourage Ukrainians to return. Among the priorities are building affordable housing, creating jobs, developing educational programmes, helping families with children and supporting entrepreneurs.

Ukraine should prepare not only for the end of the war, but also for the return of its people, without whom the country's recovery and development will be impossible," Mustafayeva summarised.

As Socialportal wrote, more than 4 million Ukrainians currently have temporary protection status in the EU. Most have managed to obtain legal status, basic support, access to medical care, education and the labour market. However, life in a foreign land is accompanied by many challenges, and a significant proportion of people still live "between two worlds". What can the state do to bring back its citizens and how they help the country those who have become part of the Ukrainian diaspora abroad. Read the answers to these and other questions in the exclusive mater on Socialportal.

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