Approximately 70% of Ukrainian asylum seekers of working age in the Czech Republic are officially employed and bring economic benefit to the country.
This was reported in an interview with Ukrinform by Ukraine’s Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Vasyl Zvarych.
As of now, nearly 370,000 Ukrainians in Czechia have temporary protection status, granted after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. According to the Embassy, around 280,000 of them are of working age (18–65).
“Seventy percent of them are officially employed,” noted Ambassador Zvarych, calling it a high indicator compared to neighboring EU countries.
This contributes significant added value to the Czech budget. Official employment means Ukrainians are paying taxes and insurance contributions, directly boosting public revenues.
Czech government data shows that in 2024 alone, Ukrainians paid $250 million more in taxes than they received in social benefits. In the first quarter of 2025, the net benefit has already reached $130 million, with the full-year figure expected to surpass the previous year's.
Ukrainians are working in hospitals, schools, and other sectors where there's a critical need for skilled personnel. The embassy has launched a project called “Solidarity in Return”, highlighting success stories — particularly of those who arrived due to Russian aggression, quickly validated their qualifications, and now hold significant positions in medicine, IT, and education.
“Ukrainians did not come to Czechia to sit idle and wait for aid,” Zvarych emphasized. “They are hardworking and talented — and they’re putting that talent to use to support Czech society.”
He also noted that some Ukrainians have returned home if they found better job opportunities in Ukraine or couldn’t integrate into Czech life.
Zvarych criticized attempts by some Czech political groups to use the refugee issue in their campaigns ahead of the country’s parliamentary elections, calling such actions manipulative.
