24.10.2016
Migratory moods of Ukrainians
- According to a study conducted by the Rating Group in September 2016, 30% of Ukrainians said they would rather like to move abroad permanently (almost 65% would rather not), while 40% would like to work abroad. A stronger desire to move or work abroad is shown by residents of Western and Central Ukraine, men, younger people, and those with higher education and income.
- The main reasons for wanting to move abroad permanently are better living conditions (53%), ensuring a better future for children (41%), and the lack of decent jobs in Ukraine (32%). Among respondents who have children under 16, ensuring a better future for their children is the main motive (52%).
- Other motives for permanent emigration include better self-realization (13%), feeling unsafe in Ukraine (8%), better education or healthcare (7%), and better conditions for doing business abroad (5%).
- Among those who would like to work abroad, only one quarter consider their chances of getting a job abroad to be high; about half assess their chances as low; 12% believe they have no chance at all, and one in ten are undecided. More optimistic assessments are typical of Western Ukrainians, youth, men, and people with higher education and income. Those who have already worked abroad or have seriously explored the issue are much more optimistic about their chances.
- Overall, one quarter of Ukrainians have already looked into job opportunities abroad. Among visa center visitors who want to work abroad, almost 70% have already explored such opportunities.
- One in ten Ukrainians has work experience abroad; this is far more common in Western Ukraine (23%) than elsewhere (6–8%). Such experience is more typical of men, middle-aged people, and those with higher education and income.
- Among those who want to work abroad, over 20% have already worked abroad; among visa center visitors who want to work abroad, nearly 40% have such experience (in Lviv and Zhytomyr, this share is twice as high as in Kharkiv).
- Nearly 40% of those who want to work abroad are willing to stay 1–5 years, while most visa center visitors plan to stay less than one year. Older people, supporters of the Customs Union, and those without foreign work experience are more oriented toward short-term stays. Young people, supporters of European integration, and those with work experience abroad are more willing to stay three years or longer or even move permanently.
- One third are interested in working in their existing profession, one in five is ready to retrain, and 40% would accept any job. Visa center visitors are more focused on working in their profession (42%) and less willing to retrain (14%). Professional or retraining-based work is more attractive to Eastern and Southern residents, urban dwellers, youth, and those with higher education and income, while “any job” is more common among Western Ukrainians, rural residents, lower-income groups, and the unemployed.
- Nearly 80% of visa center visitors who want to work abroad need information about the foreign employer, almost 70% need health insurance and legal protection, and two thirds need help with housing, employer search, and legal advice. About half need a full guidebook for people going abroad to work. Visa assistance is the least demanded. Those with prior work experience abroad see less need for such support.
- Among mandatory requirements for employment agencies, 90% require a contract with a foreign employer and state registration, and nearly 80% require a license from the Ministry of Social Policy, correct office address, and a real physical office.
- The most important factors when using such agencies are signing a service contract (90%) and receiving full information about the employer, job duties, salary, housing, and insurance (86%). Less important are requests for a worker’s experience and skills (58%) and the option of cashless payment (44%), though these are more important for those with foreign work experience.
- Two thirds of visa center visitors believe that insurance provides medical and social protection abroad; 20% think it is wasted money, and 15% are undecided. Those who have worked abroad consider insurance less important than others.
- Two thirds of Ukrainians say that if they had a permanent job abroad, they would eventually return to Ukraine; 15% would not. Among those who want to work abroad, 57% would return; among visa center visitors, 52%.
Methodology
- Audience (1): Population of Ukraine aged 18+.
- Sample: 2,000 respondents, representative by age, gender, region, and settlement type.
- Method: face-to-face interviews.
- Margin of error: ≤ 2.2%.
- Fieldwork: September 16–22, 2016.
- Audience (2): Visa center visitors who want to work abroad (Lviv, Zhytomyr, Kharkiv).
- Sample: 450 respondents.
- Method: face-to-face interviews.
- Margin of error: ≤ 5%.
- Fieldwork: September 16–27, 2016.
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