Ukrainian Youth in Denmark: Growing Up and Working Amid Forced Migration
By Nataliia Varha and Kathrine Vitus
“I started working part-time at the age of 16. Now I focus as much as possible on earning money, not studying… I’ll get a little older, earn some money – and then return to my childhood again.” (Young man, 19 years old)
Introduction: Economic Independence as a Marker of Growing Up
In today’s world, growing up is no longer defined solely by age. It is increasingly shaped by the circumstances in which a young person comes of age. Ukrainian youth who have experienced a full-scale war and who have found themselves in situations of forced migration undergo this process at an accelerated pace, often without the usual support systems – family, home, stability. Their transition to adulthood occurs in new cultural, economic, and social environments where personal choice, adaptability, and self-reliance become critically important.
Economic independence is not just a financial measurement but a key indicator of the transition into adulthood. In the modern Ukrainian context, however, this transition is often delayed. There is a clear trend of young people living with their parents for extended periods. Although there are no exact official figures published by the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, unofficial estimates shared in online discussions suggest that approximately 40% of young people aged 18–24, 30% of those aged 23–28, and only around 28% after age 29 continue to live with their parents.[1] While these estimates are not based on official statistics, they are consistent with broader Eastern European trends, where young people tend to leave the parental home later than in Western Europe.[2] High rental costs, an unstable labor market, and reliance on family financial support prevent many from achieving independence.

But what happens when migration – particularly forced migration – disrupts this trajectory, as in the case of the war in Ukraine? The project The Transitions of Displaced Ukrainian Youth – A Qualitative Longitudinal Study, conducted from 2023 to 2024 by Sociologist Kathrine Vitus, focused on how displaced Ukrainian youth navigate life in Denmark. It examined their adaptation strategies and transitions into adulthood within the context of forced migration.
This longitudinal qualitative study involved 15 participants (8 females, 7 males), who were divided into two age groups: one from 15 to 18 years and the second one from 19 to 23 years. Interviews were conducted in three rounds in Ukrainian or Russian, ensuring participants could express themselves comfortably. The first round consisted of so called “life history interviews” (Dec 2022 – Jan 2023) exploring past and present life conditions, including family life, social ties, education in Ukraine, and changes following displacement. The second round included “Photo-based interviews” (March – April 2023), when participants shared photos from their lives before and after displacement, which served as a basis for reflective narrative interviews. During the third round focus group discussions were held in February 2024 to explore shared themes and collective experiences over time.
Two Worlds: Ukraine vs. Denmark
The forced migration of Ukrainian youth to Denmark has brought both challenges and opportunities. In this new environment, young people must quickly adapt, pursue education, find jobs, learn a new language – and, most importantly, take responsibility for their own lives.
As of 2024, Denmark is home to approximately 47,000 temporarily displaced Ukrainians after Russia’s full-scale invasion. Among them, around 7,000 are aged 15–24 (with 4,056 aged 15–19 and 2,949 aged 20–24).[3] While detailed employment data for this age group is limited, broader labor market indicators suggest that about half of young Ukrainians are engaged in employment or vocational activity.
These youth face a dual challenge: integrating into a new society while coping with the psychological consequences of displacement. Access to education, employment, and psychosocial support are essential to their successful integration. Understanding the broader social and economic context in which they live is key to evaluating their mental health and future prospects. At the same time, most still live with their parents. According to the rules for Ukrainian refugees in Denmark, individuals under 25 living with their families are exempt from paying for social housing. However, such cohabitation can complicate the path to independence. Generational conflict, restrictions on personal freedom, and psychological stress often shape this new reality. A twenty year old man explains: “My relationship with my mother has deteriorated. I’ve started the separation process. I want to earn money so I can move out and decide for myself how to live.”
For many, the situation of migration has created more tension around the process of separation from their parents. Young people report increased conflicts, a desire for autonomy, and the development of personal boundaries. This process often comes with emotional stress – according to participants, even a certain level of financial stability is not enough. Remaining under parental control means postponing a full transition into adult life. For many, the awareness of adulthood is not tied to their official age, but to the moment they first paid a bill, made an independent decision, or were able to support someone financially. Earning their first wages in Denmark was not only a source of joy but also a symbolic “entry” into adulthood. As of early 2025, approximately 14,000 displaced Ukrainians are employed in the Danish labor market.[4] Among them is a subset of youths aged 15–24, though disaggregated data for this group is not publicly available. However, existing trends suggest that a significant portion is engaged in the labor market whether through formal employment, student jobs alongside education, or informal work arrangements.
Most young Ukrainians, like adult refugees, tend to find employment in sectors facing labor shortages. These include cleaning, hotels and restaurants, agriculture, and retail.[5] These are typically entry-level jobs with low barriers. They allow for quick integration, but are often marked by precarious working conditions, limited upward mobility, and informal arrangements, particularly for younger individuals (15–17) or those still navigating residency permits.

Denmark does not require the displaced youth to work once they reach a certain age. However, Danish labor law permits young people aged 13–15 to work up to 12 hours per week during the school term (no more than 2 hours per day) and up to 35 hours per week during holidays (7 hours per day). Youth aged 15–17 may work up to 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week during vacations, and up to 12 hours per week during the school year.[6] For individuals over 18, participation in integration programs, such as language classes, education, or employment, is expected. For minors under 18, the primary focus remains on education rather than employment.
Compared to host populations across several EU countries, the Ukrainian refugee youth have demonstrated higher employment rates in the 15–19 and 20–24 age groups.[7] This trend is often interpreted as a coping strategy, driven by low parental income as a result of displacement, a desire for economic independence and uncertainty surrounding future resettlement or return.
In Denmark, however, the employment rate among the Ukrainian refugee youth remains lower than among their Danish peers, largely due to challenges such as language barriers, non-recognition of academic credentials, unfamiliarity with the Danish labor system, and mental health struggles.
Our longitudinal interviews reveal a notable evolution in the attitudes and behaviors of young Ukrainian refugees in Denmark between 2022 and 2024. In the early months following displacement (phase two, 2022), many respondents made concerted efforts to balance online studies at Ukrainian universities with participation in Danish educational institutions. This period was marked by a strong commitment to maintaining continuity with their home-country education, alongside a curiosity and openness to the new academic and social opportunities offered in Denmark.
By the third phase of the study in 2024, however, a significant reassessment had occurred. Many young refugees had either paused or completely discontinued their Ukrainian studies, redirecting their focus toward establishing a stable life in Denmark, integrating into local communities, and pursuing educational or professional pathways aligned with their future in the host country. This shift illustrates both the practical and psychological adjustments involved in navigating displacement and highlights the evolving priorities of young refugees as they adapt to their new environment.
Temporary Status and Its Consequences
Initial optimism regarding access to housing, employment, and healthcare has gradually given way to disappointment and uncertainty, primarily due to the limitations of their temporary legal status. While the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive (TPD) facilitated swift residency, it also reinforced a sense of impermanence. Respondents repeatedly described housing conditions, language learning, and employment contracts as temporary – discouraging long-term investment in integration. As a result, many young people appear to have put their integration “on hold”. A recurring sentiment is that language learning feels futile in the absence of legal guarantees for future residency. This reflects a broader phenomenon that researchers have termed the “integration for return-strategy”[8], wherein engagement with the host society remains limited pending a potential return to the home country: “We had plans in Ukraine, but now everything has changed. War, relocation– everything is upside down…” (Young man, 18 years old).
Among the respondents, two distinct strategic orientations have emerged: “Potential Returnees” –individuals who prioritize earning money with the intention of returning to Ukraine. They tend to integrate minimally, avoid learning Danish, and do not plan for a long-term stay; and “Integrators” – this group actively learns the language, pursues education, and envisions a future in Denmark. For them, the process of growing up includes not only economic responsibilities but also a reimagining of personal identity and long-term plans.
The Danish Social Contract and Its Implications
Young people who find themselves in EU countries, such as Denmark, have encountered a different kind of social contract. Here, the state permits teenagers to work starting at age 15, creating early opportunities for financial independence. However, structural constraints remain: for example, young people living with their parents are exempt from paying for social housing. While this reduces financial burdens, it also creates what some describe as an “economic trap” – even if they can earn money, many remain at home, thereby postponing full independence. Even temporary work can act as a powerful catalyst for psychological development. Young people learn to budget, take responsibility for rent, food, and medical care. What was once provided by parents becomes a personal obligation marking a profound shift from dependence to self-reliance: “When I received my first salary, I realized that I could provide for myself. It was a feeling of real adulthood.” (Young man, 18 years old).
For many, these experiences became turning points for personal growth – fostering confidence, ambition, and self-reliance. At the same time, their responses revealed emotional ambivalence: “I’ve grown up, but I wish I hadn’t.” (Young man, 20 years old). “I want to be independent, but I miss my parents.” (Young man, 18 years old).“Work matters, but I still want to hang out with friends.” (Young women, 17 years old).
This internal tension captures a key feature of youth development during times of crisis: the coexistence of adult responsibilities and youthful desires. Among respondents living independently, there was a noticeable sense of confidence, stability, and even pride. Many recalled that in Ukraine, they had never even had a room of their own or knew how to handle bills. Now, they were fully self-sufficient: “I live alone. At first, it was scary. But I support myself, I pay for my apartment. It’s my space, my rules, my life.” (Young women, 22 years old).
Losses and Gains: Growing Up Fast
Migration brings opportunities but also profound vulnerabilities. Young people especially struggle with the loss of paternal support, broken social ties, and separation from friends. Yet, it is precisely these losses that often accelerate the transition to adulthood: “Childhood is over… But it’s better to work and earn. This is my path to adulthood.” (Young man, 19 years old). Several respondents faced financial hardship. Some even arrived with debt but they consistently voiced the belief that these problems were their own responsibility. Rather than burdening their parents, they accepted any available work, even if it was physically demanding or low-paid:
“I can’t ask my parents. If I ask, it’s over – they’re old now… I never asked for anything. If I do, my father will have to pay my debt. I’d rather work and send them money. Like it was my dad’s salary.” (Young man, 18 years old).
Financial independence was viewed not merely as a survival strategy, but as a sign of personal growth and development. Even a small pay raise was felt as a deeply emotional achievement – a sign that their effort was recognised and appreciated: “I’m very material… To me, money means status and responsibility. When I started taking on more, I earned more. That motivated me… I was so happy! I finally felt seen!” (Young man, 19 years old). These experiences transformed them. Having gained independence, they no longer felt like the same people they were before the war:
“When I go back, I won’t be the same… Now I know how to write a CV, search for jobs. If I managed it here in Denmark, I can do it even more in Ukraine. I’ve become more confident, wiser. My whole experience is different now.” (Young women, 22 years old).
Conclusion: A New Adulthood Is Emerging
Young people who have experienced forced migration are forming a new identity – one that exists between countries, between legal statuses, and between childhood and adulthood. They are not just adapting to new environments; they are actively learning how to be independent in the context of global uncertainty. Economic independence, the first job, and having one’s own space are not just financial milestones – they represent freedom, dignity, and the ability to make one’s own choices. This journey is not linear. But it is in the process of overcoming challenges and discovering themselves that young people are forging new forms of adulthood – more flexible, yet not less responsible. Their stories are filled with both loss and gain. And perhaps the most significant victory is not just integration into a new society, but the emergence of a sense of self that is resilient and future-oriented: “Here in Denmark, I found myself. I have a job, friends, a home. I feel like I’m finally living my own life.” (Young women, 20 years old).
Young people are not passive observers of their circumstances. They actively seek employment, adapt quickly, and build new skills. At the same time, they acknowledge their emotional, cultural, and social losses. Like adults, refugee youth may experience symptoms of Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or complex PTSD (CPTSD). According to the University of Copenhagen, approximately 24.4% of the general refugee population in Denmark exhibits such symptoms.[9] While youth tend to report slightly lower levels of PTSD than adults, the mental health risk remains high.[10] Depression and anxiety are also widespread, driven by adjustment stress, isolation, and uncertainty about the future.[11] It also means emotional distance from parents, the right to make personal decisions, and a complex negotiation with one’s past, culture, and family ties. Even though long-term planning is difficult, nearly all respondents have begun setting personal goals based on their experiences. With these, they either return stronger or stay to build a new life.
Afterword
This story is not just about young people caught in war. It is about growing up, taking responsibility, finding stability, and redefining oneself. The narratives shared by the respondents are not mere personal testimonies. They are reflections of a generation coming of age amidst instability, challenges, and change. Young people forced to migrate due to war demonstrate that adulthood is more than reaching a certain age – it is a profound internal transformation. Their voices echo not only fatigue but also resilience and determination. Regardless of where they eventually settle, these young people have already undergone a transformation: they are confident, financially responsible, and prepared to face the uncertainties of the world.
Notes
[1] “Дослідження: українська молодь не планує купляти власне житло,” Media RITM, March 17, 2025, https://media.ritm.group/neruxomist/doslidzennia-ukrayinska-molod-ne-planuje-kupliati-vlasne-zitlo, [Research: Ukrainian youth do not plan to buy their own homes].
[2] “Age of young people leaving their parental household,” Statistics explained, accessed August 25, 2025, https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/SEPDF/cache/87422.pdf.
[3] “Ukrainere med ophold efter særloven Statistics Denmark,” Denmarks Statistics, accessed August 25, 2025, https://www.dst.dk/da/Statistik/nyheder-analyser-publ/bagtal/2025/2025-02-24-Ukrainske-statsborgere, [Ukrainians residing under the special law].
[4] “Næsten 14.000 fordrevne ukrainere i job på det danske arbejdsmarked,” Beskæftigelsesministeriet, press release February 24, 2025, https://bm.dk/nyheder/pressemeddelelser/2025/02/naesten-14000-fordrevne-ukrainere-i-job-paa-det-danske-arbejdsmarked, [Almost 14,000 displaced Ukrainians in jobs on the Danish labor market].
[5] “Ukrainere finder job på mange af de store mangelområder,” Dansk Arbejdsgiverforening press release, April 2, 2024, https://www.da.dk/politik-og-analyser/beskaeftigelse/2024/ukrainere-finder-job-paa-mange-af-de-store-mangelomraader, [Ukrainians find jobs in many of the major shortage areas].
[6] “Bekendtgørelse om unges arbejde,” Retsinformation, BEK nr. 239 af 06/04/2005, https://www.retsinformation.dk/eli/lta/2005/239, [Executive Order on Young People’s Work].
[7] “Refugees from Ukraine in Seven Host Countries,” UN Refugee Agency, Multi-Sector Needs Assessment (MSNA) Regional Report, October 15, 2023, https://data.unhcr.org/en/documents/details/106189.
[8] Richard Black, Koser, Khalid “The End of the Refugee Cycle? Refugee Repatriation and Reconstruction,” in The End of the Refugee Cycle, Refugee and Forced Migration Studies, vol. 4 (Berghahn Books, 1999). See also: Koser, K., “The Return and Reintegration of Rejected Asylum Seekers and Irregular Migrants,” International Organization for Migration 4, (2001), https://www.unhcr.org/sites/default/files/legacy-pdf/4d948b4f9.pdf.
[9] Anne-Marie Schönemann, Maria Marti-Castaner, Viktoriia Vereshchakina & Marie Norredam, “‘Genera General practitionersʼ assessment of Ukrainian refugees arriving in Denmark,” Danish Medical Journal 72, nr. 7 (2025), https://ugeskriftet.dk/dmj/general-practitioners-assessment-ukrainian-refugees-arriving-denmark.
[10] “Mental health of refugees and migrants,” World Health Organization (WHO), 2022, European Network for Psychosocial Support (ENPS), https://www.enps.eu/resources/.
[11] “International migration – Denmark: Report to OECD,” Udlændinge- og Integrationsministeriet, November, 2023. https://uim.dk/media/oqhfuwqf/international-migration-denmark-2023.pdf.
References
“Mental Health and Well-being of Ukrainian Refugees in Denmark,” Danish Refugee Council, 2023, https://drc.ngo/resources.
“Ukraine Situation Update,” United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), 2024. https://www.unhcr.org/ukraine-emergency.html.
“Integration of displaced persons from Ukraine in Denmark – Employment and Education Statistics,” Danish Ministry of Immigration and Integration, Ministry Publications 2024.
Uffe Hansen, Nis Peder Kolby, “To år inde i krigen: 11.000 ukrainske flygtninge arbejder i Danmark,” Dansk Industri2024, February, https://www.danskindustri.dk/di-business/arkiv/nyheder/2024/2/to-ar-inde-i-krigen-11.000-ukrainske-flygtninge-arbejder-i-danmark. [Two years into the war: 11,000 Ukrainian refugees are working in Denmark].
About the Authors
Dr. Nataliia Varha – Doctor hab. in Sociology (2021), Candidate of Sociological Sciences (PhD) (2008). Research and teaching positions as post-doctoral position at the Department Sociology and Social Work at Aalborg University; and from 2012 to 2022 as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Sociology and Social Work at Uzhhorod National University, Ukraine. Her research focuses on informal employment of the population, shadow employment and unemployment; cross-border migration and refugees; sociology of youth, professional and educational socialization of youth.
Dr. Kathrine Vitus – Professor of Sociology at VIVE (The Danish Center for Social Science Research), PhD in Sociology from the University of Copenhagen (2005). Research and teaching positions: Department of Sociology and Social Work at Aalborg University (2016–2023); Ethnicity and Health at the University of Copenhagen (2014–2016); SFI (2005–2014). Her research focuses on childhood and youth, identity and ethnicity, migration and integration, asylum politics, marginalization, delinquency, and the bodily and emotional wellbeing of children and young people within welfare state frameworks.
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Citation: Nataliia Varha; Kathrine Vitus, Ukrainian Youth in Denmark: Growing Up and Working Amid Forced Migration, in: TRAFO – Blog for Transregional Research, 07.10.2025, https://trafo.hypotheses.org/61824
OpenEdition suggests that you cite this post as follows:
Forum Transregionale Studien (October 7, 2025). Ukrainian Youth in Denmark: Growing Up and Working Amid Forced Migration. TRAFO – Blog for Transregional Research. Retrieved November 11, 2025 from https://doi.org/10.58079/14v6v


