Labour survey: Ukrainian refugees mainly interested in short-term jobs
Ukrainian refugees who are now entering the Czech jobs market are primarily interested in manual labour and short-term employment, according to recruitment agencies surveyed by the Czech News Agency (ČTK). Since it is mainly women who are entering the country, experts estimate that sectors such as manufacturing, trade and health will see the largest rise in job applicants.
Despite large numbers of Ukrainian refugees possessing high qualifications, those interested in finding jobs in the Czech Republic are mainly looking for employment in manual labour and short-term work opportunities, according to ManpowerGroup Marketing Manager Jiří Halbrštát. He said that this is due to the fact that people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine are counting on staying in the Czech Republic only temporarily. The recruitment agency professional expects that, over the period of the next several weeks, some of them will also find work in the gastronomy, services, administrative and IT sectors.
Sándor Bodnár, the director of the Czech branch of international recruitment agency Hays, told ČTK that one of the reasons why refugees are looking for manual labour jobs is because the application process tends to be faster in this field of work. He expects that the employment process for Ukrainians in the Czech Republic will be sped up through a new legislation package that could be passed as early as next week.
Traditionally, Ukrainians have tended to be employed in sectors ranging from manufacturing and logistics to construction, Grafton Recruitment Marketing Director Jitka Součková told ČTK. These are also jobs where demand has long outstripped supply, especially when it comes to positions such as welders, locksmiths, electricians and painters. She said that Ukrainian refugees will now be able to find employment mainly in manufacturing and logistics, especially in positions where Czech as a language is not required.
Meanwhile, those refugees who speak good English could find jobs also in other sectors, ranging from IT to finance and HR, the Chairman of the Association of Business Service Leaders Jonathan Appleton told the Czech News Agency. He said that these jobs can often be done from home, something that could be useful for refugee mothers with children.
According to the Czech Chamber of Commerce, employers are mainly offering jobs for women in the storage, catering and services sectors. However, they can also find employment in less physically demanding tasks in the construction sector.
The greatest challenge for refugees looking for work is currently the fact that their provisional housing is often located far from the prospective employment centres.
