The case in summary: Iryna Kotovska, a Ukrainian refugee, now works as an assistant at Trara school in Fredrikstad, where she helps Ukrainian students to adapt. Fredrikstad has settled 462 Ukrainian refugees since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and has succeeded in getting many of them into work. 46 per cent of Ukrainians in Fredrikstad have found work in the past year, which is far above the national average of 25 per cent. Fredrikstad’s success is due to good cooperation between Nav, the municipality and public and private employers, as well as a strategy to get the refugees into work quickly. Labor and Inclusion Minister Tonje Brenna praises Fredrikstad for their success in getting Ukrainians into work. Fredrikstad municipality aims for 50 per cent of Ukrainians to be in work by the end of 2024. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – I started here in November last year. It was important for me to find work quickly, says Iryna Kotovska. She had to flee her house, job and homeland when the war broke out in Ukraine in 2022. Today she lives in Fredrikstad and works at Trara school. Iryna Kotovska is actually a trained English teacher from Ukraine. Until she learns even better Norwegian, she works as an assistant. Photo: Siw Mariann Strømbeck / news At the school, she is one of three Ukrainian assistants who are responsible for the eight Ukrainian students at the school. It gives the children a sense of security to be met by someone with the same mother tongue. – It is easier for them to open up to us. We understand them, we have experienced the same as them in Ukraine. The children need to ease their feelings and thoughts, and they do that best in their mother tongue, says Kotovska. Although she does not speak perfect Norwegian, she has been thrown into working life. It has been one of the keys to success for Ukrainians in Fredrikstad. Far above the national average In total, Fredrikstad municipality has settled 462 Ukrainian refugees since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. And Østfold Municipality has succeeded well in getting the new residents into work. The road to success has been as easy as it has been difficult. – Go to work as soon as possible. Although the Norwegian is not perfect yet, says Karianne Vestberg Løkke. She is head of the department for work and inclusion in Nav Fredrikstad. The head of department in Nav can smile. Because Fredrikstad is good at getting Ukrainians into work. Photo: Siw Mariann Strømbeck / news Løkke explains that all Ukrainians who come to Norway as refugees started on an introductory course. It lasts for approx. one year. – Furthermore, we map the individual’s resources in relation to competence and education from the home country. The education is then translated so that it is approved in Norway. An employer match is then looked for so that you get into work as quickly as possible. – If they get into work, they learn Norwegian more and often faster, says Løkke. And the recipe has produced results. 46 percent of Ukrainians in Fredrikstad have found work in the past year. According to Nav, this is far above the national average of 25 per cent. Only one in four in work nationwide The fact that Fredrikstad is largely successful in the integration of Ukrainian refugees is based on good cooperation between Nav, the municipality and public and private employers. – It is a win-win situation for all parties. The Ukrainians often have the education and expertise we need, says Løkke. Now Fredrikstad’s goal is for 50 percent of Ukrainians to be in work by the end of 2024. Figures from Statistics Norway show that there are just over 47,000 Ukrainians aged 20 to 66 in Norway. Only one in four is in work, preliminary figures for July show. The statistics nevertheless show that refugees from Ukraine are employed more quickly than other groups of refugees. Ukrainians and work in Norway There were just over 47,000 immigrants from Ukraine aged 20–66 living in Norway in June 2024. Among those who have lived in Norway for approximately one year, 44% of men and 34% of women are respectively in work. After approximately two years, the corresponding figures are 57% and 46%. Compared to other groups of refugees, those from Ukraine are employed more quickly. Among wage earners from Ukraine, the most common occupations are cleaners, shop assistants, and kindergarten and school assistants. Source: Statistics Norway The minister praises the work The government’s aim is to get as many Ukrainians into work as possible, as quickly as possible. The so-called introduction program has now become more work-oriented and the Norwegian training more flexible in that it is easier to combine Norwegian training with work. Minister for Employment and Inclusion Tonje Brenna (Ap). Photo: William Jobling / news Labor and inclusion minister Tonje Brenna (Ap) praises the work in Fredrikstad. – I am happy that Fredrikstad is succeeding so well in getting many Ukrainians into work. It is important to solve the many tasks facing the city and the region, says Brenna. – We know that there is a great demand for labor both in business and in the health and care sector, and that many Ukrainians have precisely the skills we need. Looking for employers Nav in Fredrikstad is constantly looking for employers who can offer jobs or work training. – We are a region with a major shortage of manpower, and it is precisely the manpower reserve that we must find, says department head Løkke. – More employers should see the opportunities here. It is important that both small, medium and large companies see Nav as a recruitment partner or inclusion partner. The Ukrainians thrive in the workplace in Fredrikstad. Photo: Siw Mariann Strømbeck / news The headmaster at Trara school, Morten André Johnsen Rummelhoff, praises the collaboration with Nav and the municipality. He is very pleased with three new employees from Ukraine. – These are highly educated people. They are trained teachers and child psychologists at bachelor’s and master’s level from their home country. They are skilled and hardworking, and for Trara School the assistants have been worth their weight in gold, says Rummelhoff. In time, Iryna Kotovska hopes to work as a teacher, but for now she is happy to work as an assistant until her knowledge of Norwegian becomes good enough. – I learn Norwegian every day at work. By colleagues and students. It takes time, but I’m getting better and better every day. Published 17.09.2024, at 17.35
ttn-69
This is how Fredrikstad gets more Ukrainians into work – news Østfold – Local news, TV and radio
