Labour-market integration of Ukrainian refugees in a rural Norwegian municipality: Exploring decision-making problems facing actors at various levels

Abstract

Abstract

Title: Labour-market integration of Ukrainian refugees in a rural Norwegian municipality: Exploring decision-making problems facing actors at various levels.

Aim: This thesis aims to explore decision-making problems facing national decision makers, municipal actors, local employers, and Ukrainians themselves.

Background: The full-scale invasion of Ukraine has resulted in a large refugee flow in Europe. Ukrainian refugees are granted temporary collective protection and are settled in Norwegian municipalities. Although the Norwegian government has stated the importance that Ukrainians find work quickly, less Ukrainians than expected have so far succeeded to gain work.

Theory: The assignment is linked to the “theory of change” framework (Weiss, 1998), the “realist approach” in evaluation studies (Pawson and Tilley, 1997) and “mechanistic explanations” in the social sciences (Risjord, 2014 & Renmans, 2023). Labour-market integration of Ukrainians is constructed as a program process theory to structure the thesis.

Method: This thesis is a qualitative case study used to explore a Norwegian rural municipality. To investigate the topic, six interviews have been conducted with seven informants who have had central roles in labour-market integration of Ukrainian refugees in their municipality. My data does not contain direct statements from Ukrainians refugees or national decision makers.

Results: The results of this thesis suggest that several “mechanisms” can make it difficult to sufficiently qualify Ukrainians for labour; seemingly lack of time to learn Norwegian, the local dialect and nynorsk, a mismatch between Ukrainians` education and experience, lack of available and suitable local jobs and housing offers, cultural challenges, limited mental capacity and motivation among Ukrainians and formal requirements from local municipal employers.

Discussion: The findings suggest that there are various rationalities among national decision makers, municipal actors, local employers and Ukrainians, presenting “mechanisms” that enables or challenges labour-market integration of Ukrainians. Still, further research exploring various actors` believes is needed to provide comprehensive policy recommendations.

UKRINT: This thesis is part of the NIBR research project “Preparing for a long-term stay or quick return? Labour-market integration of Ukrainian refugees in Norway (UKRINT)”.

Funding: The Unit for Humanitarian Needs and Analysis in Red Cross is funding this thesis.

Keywords: Norway; Ukrainians; temporary collective protection; labour-market integration.