Can Newcomers overstudy the host language? Evidence from Ukrainians in Flanders

Poor knowledge of Dutch is one of the main obstacles to the integration of newcomers on the labour market in Flanders. Notwithstanding the many vacancies and the often adequate technical skills and expertise that newcomers have, finding a job is a challenge, and if so, it is below the level of their degree. Consequently, the newcomers, in our case Ukrainians displaced by the war, take Dutch courses and many of them take a lot of Dutch courses, up to an advanced level.

This paper studies the potential downside to it, to wit the cost for the newcomer, in essence the lower number of days worked because the newcomer is spending a lot of time in the classroom. The paper uses detailed data on the labour market behaviour and Dutch learning effort of Ukrainian newcomers in Flanders since February 2022, obtained from the Flemish Employment Agency (VDAB).

We find that men without academic degree work more days after they have learned Dutch, compared to never-learners, but only if they stop taking language courses after one year. Women with an academic degree who study Dutch, work less compared to never-learners, in particular when they continue studying Dutch after one year. From the point of view of days worked, this group overstudies Dutch, but they may have other reasons to do so.

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