Just 977 out of roughly 4,500 Ukrainian refugees in Luxembourg had managed to secure employment by the end of 2023. One of these is 34-year-old Alexandra Tsyliya, who came to Luxembourg with her two children when Russia invaded her home country two years ago. As a communications and project manager with extensive language skills, she was able to find a job relatively quickly.
“It was quite a challenge coming to Luxembourg,” she recalls. She says she had everything in Ukraine, a steady job and a happy life. “We travelled a lot, we launched a business. Our life was peaceful, like most Europeans,” she says. But the last two years have consisted of the stark realisation that she could reach her thirties and still be left with nothing. In order to try and rebuild her life, she says skimps on sleep and works on a considerable number of side hustles and projects.
Olena Neskorodiana, 31, is desperate to find work. When the war began, she initially fled to France, but came to Luxembourg in August last year, where she says she feels more comfortable. A qualified social scientist, she has not yet been able to find a role in communications or project management, mostly due to lacking fluency in French. In the meantime, she volunteers for the charity LUkraine.
Olena hopes her unemployment will be temporary, and is eager to gain a foothold in the workplace for a number of reasons. On the one hand, she is keen to develop professionally, while on the other hand, the economy in her home country is on the verge of collapse, adding a new layer of stress. “I have family in Ukraine. I see it as, at least I can make some money here, so I can support myself and help my family financially. My sister is happy with her job. My mother earns €150 a month. They need my help,” she explains.
Now, she is embarking on a course of French lessons to help her job hunt. But with over a decade of work experience, she is keen to be able to contribute, but she is conscious of the pressures of time. “I’m considering different options. If nothing else works out, then maybe I’ll continue with waitressing,” she says confidently. After all, she needs money in order to live.
Olena is far from the only one in her position, considering work beneath her qualifications. According to STATEC data, the majority of Ukrainians in Luxembourg are employed in the hospitality sector, or doing administrative or cleaning jobs, despite many of them possessing degrees or other diplomas.
The challenges faced by young women coming to the Grand Duchy alone are great, says Alexandra Tsyliya. And it’s not just a case of struggling with language barriers or bureaucracy. “Sometimes I think people forget or just don’t realise how much strength it takes to start over again. To have to be there for your children, and live in two different realities,” she explains. The difficulty lies in having to establish a new life in an unfamiliar country, while battling with the concerns and stresses of knowing their home country is still under invasion. Alexandra says she now sees her future in Luxembourg, as she has invested so much in finding her feet here, and she says she is grateful for the opportunities she has been given.
“I’d like to stay here, I think I have a lot to give to the country,” adds Olena. She says Ukrainians work hard and learn quickly, and would therefore be able to become valuable contributors to Luxembourg.
Alexandra says she always gives her children the same advice: “Yes, it’s a challenge, it’s hard, it’s very complicated. But if you put the effort in, it will all work out eventually.”
Currently, 432 Ukrainian refugees are desperately seeking work via the National Employment Agency (ADEM). 260 are participating in employment measures. The majority are looking for work in the hospitality, retail, or cleaning sectors.
