Only 3% of Ukrainian refugees in Austria intend to return: Survey

By Timo Kirez

GENEVA (AA) - A survey released on Thursday by the Austrian Integration Fund (OIF) shows that the majority of those who fled to Austria from Ukraine do not plan to return to their home country.

According to the OIF, only 3% of respondents indicated that they have concrete plans to return, which is significantly lower than in 2022 (30%) and 2023 (13%).

The survey says 56% of respondents currently do not want to return, with 12% saying they would like to return to Ukraine at some point and another 29% declaring that are unsure whether they want to return at all.

The survey also found that 44% of respondents in Austria are currently employed. According to the OIF, comparative data from previous years shows a clear increase in the number of Ukrainian women.

According to statistics, only 10% of Ukrainian women were employed in 2022, increasing to 43% in 2024.

The OIF, an Austrian federal authority that works to integrate migrants, says 75% of those who participated in the survey have a university degree and advanced qualifications in a wide range of sectors.

According to the organization, there are currently around 78,000 Ukrainian refugees living in Austria.

The OIF was founded in 1960 by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Federal Ministry of the Interior as the United Nations Refugee Fund.