Migration moods of the Ukrainians in dynamics

Press

Download report (UKR)

03.10.2017

Migration moods of the Ukrainians in dynamics

According to a survey conducted by Rating Group in September 2017, 61% of respondents said they would not like to move abroad permanently, while 35% said they would like to do so and 4% were undecided. Compared with the previous year, the share of those wishing to emigrate increased slightly, from 30% to 35%. The highest proportion of potential emigrants is found in Western Ukraine (41%). In the South the figure is 34%, in the Center 33%, and in the East 33%. Among young people aged 18–35, as many as 54% would like to move abroad permanently, compared with only 19% among older respondents. The desire to emigrate is somewhat more common among people with higher education and higher incomes. At the same time, those who have already worked abroad are less likely to want to emigrate than those who are only planning to look for a job abroad.
The most common reason for considering emigration is the hope of better living conditions (64%). A better future for children was mentioned by 34%, lack of decent jobs in Ukraine by 23%, and the desire to obtain better education by 12%. Fewer than 10% cited insecurity in Ukraine, better healthcare, better business conditions, personal self-realization, or family circumstances. Value conflicts and political persecution were mentioned by no more than 1%. Better living conditions were most often cited in the East, securing children’s future in the South, and lack of decent jobs in the West. Young people more often mentioned lack of jobs and opportunities for self-realization, while the oldest respondents more often pointed to insecurity and healthcare.
Overall, 44% of respondents would like to work abroad. Regional differences on this issue are small, but age differences are significant: 68% of young people want to work abroad, compared to 52% among middle-aged respondents and only 20% among the oldest.
The main motivation for working abroad is higher wages (72%). Between 16% and 20% also mentioned better working conditions, earning money for housing, children’s education or relatives’ treatment, professional self-realization, and better social protection. About 7% cited the opportunity to start a business or to gain experience in international companies.
Young people more often want to work abroad in order to develop professionally and gain experience in international companies, while older people are more motivated by better social protection. Those who only plan to work abroad more often cite wages as their main motivation, whereas those who have already worked abroad more often point to better working conditions.
Among preferred destination countries for work, Germany was named most often (37%), followed by Poland (26%), the United States (22%), Canada (21%), Czech Republic (16%), Italy (15%), the United Kingdom (14%), France and Sweden (12% each), Israel (11%), Spain (9%), the Netherlands (7%), and Russia (6%). Less than 5% named other countries. Germany, the United States, the Czech Republic, and the United Kingdom were chosen more often in the West, while Russia was chosen more often in the East.
Forty-four percent of respondents said they have no chance at all of working abroad in the future, 30% assessed their chances as low, and 17% as high. Young people are the most optimistic: 32% see high chances and another 41% see low chances. Among middle-aged respondents, 15% see high chances and 37% low chances. The oldest group is the least optimistic (5% and 17% respectively).
Only 14% of respondents had previously worked abroad, while 86% had not. Such experience is most common in the West, among people with higher education, higher incomes, the self-employed, and those working in the private sector.
If they had a permanent job abroad, 65% said they would definitely or probably return to Ukraine, while 23% would not and 12% were undecided. The share who would not return is lowest in the West (17%) and highest in the East and South (27% each).
One third of respondents (33%) have already looked into employment opportunities abroad, while 67% have not. Interest is highest in the West, among people with higher education, young people, those working in the private sector, the self-employed, and higher-income groups.
Among those who looked for such information, 64% received it from relatives, friends, or colleagues; 40% from the Internet; 37% through acquaintances; 12% from media advertisements; and 13% from overseas employment agencies.
Overall, 46% believe there is enough information about working abroad, while 37% think it is insufficient. Western residents, young people, those who have worked abroad, and higher-income respondents are more likely to say information is sufficient.
More than half (52%) would like to receive more information about working abroad, while 40% would not. This desire is more common among young people, residents of the Center and West, urban residents, those who want to work abroad, the higher educated, and the better-off.
More than half (55%) said they know people whose children study abroad. This is more common in the West, in cities, and among young respondents.
Seventy percent would like their children or grandchildren to study abroad, while 20% would not. Support for this is over 70% in the West, Center, and South, and 59% in the East. Support rises with younger age, higher education, and higher income. The most preferred countries for children’s education are Germany (34%), the United Kingdom (29%), the United States (25%), Poland (24%), Canada (17%), France (12%), the Czech Republic and Sweden (10% each), Italy (7%), the Netherlands and Spain (5% each), and Russia (4%).
More than half (55%) said they are personally interested in the introduction of the visa-free regime with the EU, while 38% are not. Interest is highest in the West (72%) and lowest in the East (40%). Young people, the higher educated, and wealthier respondents are more interested.
Fifty-two percent believe visa-free travel will have positive effects for Ukraine, 17% think it will have no effect, and 18% expect negative consequences. Optimism is highest in the West (68%), followed by the Center (53%) and around 40% in the East and South.
At the same time, 80% believe visa-free travel will lead to increased emigration of Ukraine’s working-age population.
Nearly three quarters also believe that Poland and Hungary are simplifying employment rules for Ukrainians primarily to benefit their own economies rather than as a friendly gesture toward Ukraine.
More than half (54%) think that a work visa is required to work abroad, while 29% think it is not.
Two thirds of respondents do not want dual citizenship, while 35% would like to have a second passport. This desire is most common in the South, among young people, the employed, and higher-income groups. Among those who want another citizenship, EU countries were preferred by 42%, the United States by 18%, Canada by 15%, and Russia by 12%.

Methodology

Audience: residents of Ukraine aged 18 and older. The sample is representative by age, sex, region, and settlement type.
Total sample: 1200 respondents.
Personal formalized interview (face-to-face).
The margin of error does not exceed 2.8%.
Fieldwork dates: 8-18 September 2017.

The research is conducted on request of All-Ukrainian Association of International Employment Companies.

Download report (UKR)