Over third of Ukrainian refugees are employed in Germany

This is evidenced by data provided to Ukrinform by the German Federal Employment Agency.

At the beginning of 2025, 299,670 Ukrainian citizens were employed in Germany, of whom 174,080 were women and 125,590 were men.

At the same time, the number of recipients of Bürgergeld citizens’ benefit (which is only available to German citizens and Ukrainians with protection status), aged 15 to 65 (working age) was 497,210: 317,250 women and 179,970 men.

As of April 2025, 693,420 Ukrainian citizens received Bürgergeld, including 413,290 women and 280,120 men. This number includes not only those of working age, but also children, young people, and the elderly. Among male recipients, 150,660 are between the ages of 18 and 63.

Thus, the employment rate among Ukrainians in Germany is slightly above 33% — lower than in neighboring countries that have also taken in a significant number of refugees since the end of February 2022.

The Federal Employment Agency also reported that the average amount of payments under the Bürgergeld program in March 2025 was €882.

The amount of assistance depends on the age and marital status of the recipient. Single adults and single parents receive €563 per month, married couples receive €506 each, and children receive between €357 and €471 depending on their age.

Registered Ukrainian refugees, unlike representatives of other nationalities, enjoy temporary protection under §24 of the Act on the Residence, Economic Activity and Integration of Foreigners in the Federal Territory. It allows them to legally reside in Germany, work, use social services, and for their children to pursue education.

As reported, Germany has accepted more than 1.1 million Ukrainian refugees. According to the Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), as of the end of November 2024, 1,265,527 Ukrainian citizens were living in Germany — more than eight times as many as at the end of February 2022.

Photo: Jonas Walzberg, dpa