Half of Ukrainian citizens who have received asylum in Austria have already found work, and most of them are linking their futures to this country. Local authorities recognize them as the most successful group among new immigrants in terms of employment and language learning, but at the same time emphasize the need for their return for the post-war reconstruction of their homeland. This was reported by the Office of the Federal Chancellor of Austria.
As of 2026, about 94,100 Ukrainian citizens live in Austria, making them one of the largest waves of new migration in the country. The structure of this group has a pronounced character: more than 60% are women, and almost a third are young people and children under 20. Geographically, Ukrainians gravitate to large cities because almost every second immigrant lives in the country’s capital, Vienna.
According to Integration Minister Claudia Bauer and the Director of the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF), Franz Wolf, Ukrainians are demonstrating unprecedented success in adapting. They attend more language courses than people with refugee status or subsidiary protection. In addition, Ukrainians not only make up the largest group of students but also learn most effectively, achieving higher levels of German proficiency more often.
Active language learning directly translates into economic results. Data show that 50% of adult Ukrainians are already working. Among the unemployed, 9 out of 10 are actively seeking a job. At the same time, statistics on Ukrainians’ future plans indicate deep integration into Austrian society. The ÖIF survey showed that 60% of Ukrainian citizens do not intend to return home in the long term.
Even though the Austrian economy benefits from the influx of qualified and hardworking personnel, official Vienna declares that the medium-term goal remains their return home after the end of hostilities.
