The Ministry of the Interior commissioned a study to examine the situation of Ukrainians who are beneficiaries of temporary protection in Finland, their employment status, their plans for the future and intention to return to Ukraine. The following observations were made:
- A total of 2,085 Ukrainians responded to the survey between July-August 2025.
- The possibility to move from reception centres to municipalities enhanced their adaptation in Finland.
- The low employment rate remained a challenge.
- The majority of respondents (63%) were from eastern Ukraine and expressed concerns about safety in their region, thus only 6% indicated that they plan to return to Ukraine after the end of the war.
- The share of those planning to stay in Finland has increased significantly compared to previous surveys. 66% of respondents no longer plan to return to Ukraine, compared to 27% in the summer 2022 survey and 51% in the autumn 2023 survey.
- However, 26% of respondents had not yet made a decision on whether to return or stay (2022: 39%; 2023: 35%).
- Approximately one-half of respondents (48%) plan to stay in Finland and to apply for a residence permit based on work, study or family ties when temporary protection ends.
- Also, 14% of respondents said they plan to continue living in Finland with a residence permit already granted.
- The level of proficiency in English and Finnish has also increased from 0% in 2022, to 12% in 2023 and currently at around 38%.
- 67% had actively sought work, but only 30% had found employment, compared to 28% in 2023.
- The most common reasons for not applying for a job were self-reported poor language skills (72%) and poor employment situation (25%).
The study was conducted also in view of the European Commission's recommendations on phasing out temporary protection status when the war ends.