JRS HU organised the second capacity-building workshop on 27 January 2026 in Budapest, Párbeszéd Háza (House of Dialogue), with the research institute Szociometrum and the Lutheran Diaconia as co-organisers. The workshop was titled ‘Az ukrán menekültek foglalkoztási helyzete’ (The employment situation of Ukrainian refugees).

The present occasion was marked by the presence of guests from a variety of backgrounds, including Ukrainian refugees, individuals seeking asylum from third countries, and staff members representing a range of organisations, universities, and municipal entities. Among attendees were representatives from institutions such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Terre des Hommes, the Hungarian Association for Migrants (Menedék), the Hungarian Red Cross, Catholic Caritas, the Jewish Theological Seminary of the University of Jewish Studies in Hungary, and the Municipality of Budapest.

The event’s structure mirrored that of the preceding workshop, incorporating a concise exposition of the SMART UA project by its coordinator, David D’Agnelli, a staff member of JRS EU. This was followed by the presentation of Szociometrum, by Judit Zatykó and Róbert Schumann, in which they set out their findings in the field of refugee employment.

Subsequent to this, the event continued with two panel discussions. The first of these was attended by employers and other relevant actors in the field: Maria Muchichka and Viktoria Deme are two women from Ukraine who are in business together as proprietors of a beauty salon in Budapest; Károly Belányi is the director of the Hard Rock Café in Budapest; and Andrea Podina is a social worker employed by the Lutheran Diaconia. The function of the moderator of the talk was performed again by Veronika Babarczy, who is a member of staff at JRS HU. The participants of the second, shorter discussion were, once again, Ukrainian refugees with relevant experience in the hardships of the Hungarian labour market, with Natalia Kvasha moderating their talk.

After an hour-long lunch interval, the participants were divided into four mixed groups, comprising refugees and Hungarian stakeholders. The task assigned to the team was consistent with the previous assignment: namely, to take a case study, analyse the situation, isolate the issue, and propose a solution. The event culminated with a presentation by each group, wherein they were required to present their recommendations.

Szociometrum identified the following issues as the most salient within the field of labour market and employment: the absence of language skills; the limited availability of degree recognition; the unavailability of childcare services; the prevalence of informal labour, grey and black economy; project-based support systems; and the scarcity of central coordination.

The validity of these results is supported by the recommendations of the participants in the analysis of case studies, with particular emphasis placed on the importance of language skills, guidance in the Hungarian bureaucracy, and the recognition of degrees. Informal labour is also a widespread phenomenon, which demonstrates a high level of motivation for work – from a human resources and integration point of view, and in a legal framework, it is an opportunity that is underutilised.

JRS HU is already strong in accompaniment, and this experience is invaluable when it comes to providing support in the labour market. Monetary compensation rarely suffices for all needs in the field of employment, and this approach aligns well with the recommendations. Improving language skills tailored to the realities of employment is one key step in supporting integration, as is the systematisation of various employment and workplace integration programmes.

Another step in the right direction could be the acceleration and simplification of degree recognition. Adequate childcare services tailored to workplace schedules could also be a useful improvement, as most refugee employees are single mothers with little or no family support. Legal aid and interpreting services are crucial in the effort to address informal labour. There is a need for a well-coordinated, integrated system that responds to all the above issues – just as with housing, there is also a need for better cooperation between organisations, municipalities and government bodies.