Within the framework of the SMART UA project, two national research reports were developed to examine access to housing for Ukrainian refugees in Slovakia, focusing on both institutional responses and market dynamics.
The Mapping Report provides an overview of the actors involved in supporting access to employment and labor market integration for Ukrainian refugees in Slovakia, including public authorities such as the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family and the Central Office of Labour, as well as relevant municipal bodies. It also highlights the role of NGOs and civil society organizations in providing job counseling, language training, and employment support, alongside employers and business associations engaged in hiring refugees or shaping labor market practices. Additionally, it underscores the contribution of educational and training providers offering skills assessment, reskilling, and upskilling opportunities.
The analysis of the labor market sheds light on its conditions by examining sectors with high labor demand, recognizing skill gaps, and assessing current employment trends relevant to the refugee population in Slovakia. In particular, services and manufacturing continue to offer opportunities for positions requiring basic or secondary qualifications. At the same time, sectors such as IT and administration show demand for more qualified roles, where language proficiency and the recognition of formal qualifications are essential for successful labor market integration.
The market analysis highlights several structural barriers, such as the recognition of qualifications and diplomas, insufficient Slovak language skills, lack of local professional networks, regional disparities, and challenges related to childcare and housing stability.
At the same time, it documents promising practices that effectively promote refugee access to decent jobs. These included:
- Effective models for skills assessment and recognition (including the use of the National Skills Assessment Report data).
- Successful examples of targeted language and vocational training programs.
- Company practices for inclusive hiring and onboarding of refugee staff.
- Models for entrepreneurship support among refugees.
- Intercultural Adaptation Mentoring and Psycho-Social Support for both displaced people and employers.
- Timely Legal Protection.
Both the mapping and the market analysis underline the importance of coordinated, multi-stakeholder approaches to employment support and serve as foundational research efforts that inform the SMART UA project’s interventions. The findings directly inform the design of pilot initiatives and capacity-building measures under the SMART UA project, ensuring they are tailored to the specific needs of the Slovak labour market and the Ukrainian refugee population.
By generating robust evidence and highlighting both challenges and good practices, these reports contribute to the overall objectives of SMART UA, supporting the development of more effective and sustainable employment support responses for Ukrainian refugees in Slovakia.
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Social Fund Agency. Neither the European Union nor the Granting Authority can be held responsible for them.