Some Ukrainian refugees may return from abroad to Ukraine if they get the opportunity to work in their specialty. First of all, this may affect highly qualified specialists. For them, a kind of contradiction has arisen - abroad they can feel safer and receive higher salaries, but at the same time lose their professional status.

This opinion was expressed by the director and co-founder of the Institute of Demography and Social Research of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Ella Libanova in the project “Planet of People”. " Where will she work in Europe A nurse, and in most cases also without a diploma, that is, a nurse. Will this suit her I’m not sure,” Libanova said.

It is the loss of professional status, in her opinion, that may become one of the factors that will prompt some Ukrainian women to return home. We are talking primarily about those who were unable to confirm their diploma, find a job in their specialty, or are forced to agree to a significantly lower professional position.

“I suspect that the most qualified people will turn out to be the ones who spent the most,” said the demographics.

At the same time, convincing those Ukrainian women who are already working abroad in their specialty to return will be much more difficult, Libanova believes. They have professional fulfillment, a familiar social status, and at the same time can earn significantly more.

" She has exactly the same social status, only she earns much more,” explained Libanova.

A feature of the current migration is the high level of education of women who left Ukraine. According to Libanova, 70% of Ukrainian women over 25 years of age who have gone abroad have higher education. This is largely due to the fact that among those leaving there were many residents of large cities, in particular Kyiv and Kharkov.

The problem of professional fulfillment remains relevant. According to UNHCR, as of January 2026, there were 5.349 million Ukrainian refugees in Europe, and among Ukrainians aged 20-64 the employment rate was 57%. Every fifth working Ukrainian was engaged in entrepreneurship.

However, just having a job does not mean professional fulfillment.. Employment in a specialty is influenced by knowledge of the local language, recognition of diplomas and professional certificates, as well as employer requirements.

This problem is particularly noticeable in regulated professions. For example, more than 90% of Ukrainian doctors failed the exam in Poland for the right to work in their profession - only 12 doctors scored the required number of points.

According to Libanova, in 2022 she hoped that after the end of the war, about half of those who left would return to Ukraine, and ideally about 60%. Now her forecast is much more restrained - about 30%.

Other studies also indicate that the decision to return will depend on the extent to which people can restore normal life in Ukraine. According to the Center for Economic Strategy, less than half of Ukrainian refugees plan to return. At the same time, among young people who have already formed a new life trajectory abroad, only 12%.

Therefore, for the return of educated Ukrainian women, not only security issues will be important, but also the opportunity to find housing, work and restore a professional career. Ukraine is already developing separate mechanisms for the voluntary return and reintegration of citizens.