Employment Pathways for Ukrainian Refugees in Romania – Key Findings from the Employment Mapping and Labour Market Analysis Research

14 April 2026

Access to employment is one of the key factors influencing the integration pathways of refugees. Within the SMART UA project, dedicated research was conducted to examine employment opportunities for refugees in Romania, focusing on how organisations, institutions, and local actors respond to these needs and exploring the dynamics of the labour market.

The research relied on two main components. First, institutional mapping was conducted to identify the actors involved in facilitating access to employment opportunities. Second, a labour market analysis examined the challenges refugees encounter and explored effective solutions to address them.

The mapping analysis highlighted that multiple actors are engaged in supporting refugees’ access to the labour market, including public institutions, non-governmental organisations, employers, and other relevant stakeholders operating at local, regional, and national levels. While a variety of actors are involved in employment support, their level of involvement and operational capacity varies significantly. Support often focuses on employment counselling, job-matching services, legal information, vocational guidance, and skills-related assistance.

At the same time, the research highlights several challenges that refugees face, including language barriers, administrative complexity, limited recognition of qualifications, and insufficient coordination between institutions.

Additionally, the labour market analysis underlines that, even though many refugees are highly educated, employment integration remains uneven. Many refugees are employed in positions below their qualification level or experience unstable working conditions.

Overall, the findings emphasise the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration in employment support, alongside targeted solutions to address the challenges faced by women, caregivers, and other vulnerable groups. Among the practices identified through the research are individualised employment counselling, stronger engagement with employers, and improved skills assessment tools.

To deepen the analysis, consultations with practitioners and institutional stakeholders explored critical issues surrounding the employment barriers faced by Ukrainian refugees. These discussions addressed key challenges, institutional responses, and employer-level actions aimed at improving employment opportunities. The exchanges complemented the research by providing valuable qualitative insights.

The research also identifies examples of good practices that can facilitate labour market integration. In particular, individualised counselling, employer engagement, and the use of skills assessment tools can significantly improve refugees’ access to employment.

By bringing together institutional mapping, labour market analysis, and stakeholder consultations, the SMART UA research contributes to shed light on the employment landscape for Ukrainian refugees in Romania. These insights provide an important evidence base to inform future cooperation between institutions, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders working to strengthen employment support systems.