Can I Take It with Me? Skills Transferability and Human Capital Investments Among Refugees

Abstract

"This chapter explores the factors that shape the intentions of Ukrainian refugees to invest in post-migration human capital in Germany. Guided by theory of post-migration human capital investments (IHCI) and using a vignette experiment among Ukrainian refugees within the online high frequency survey of the IAB-BAMF-SOEP Refugee Survey we examine how human capital transferability, opportunity costs, and settlement intentions affect people’s willingness to invest in vocational training. Our findings suggest that refugees’ post-migration educational intentions generally align with the IHCI model: refugees weigh costs and expected benefits, taking into account the usability of qualifications over time. Alongside transferability of skills from abroad to Germany, the potential transferability of acquired skills in Germany to abroad play a significant role in people’s decisions, especially if refugees intend to stay in the host country only temporarily." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Springer Nature) ((en))

Cite article

Ehab, M., Gatskova, K. & Kosyakova, Y. (2026): Can I Take It with Me? Skills Transferability and Human Capital Investments Among Refugees. In: O. Winkler & M. Olczyk (Eds.) (2026): Educational Integration of Refugees and Newly Arrived Immigrants, p. 121-141. DOI:10.1007/978-3-032-25346-0_6