Resources for employers in Slovenia
Resources for employers in Slovenia
We use "refugees" to encompass forcibly displaced people with different legal statuses, such as refugees, subsidiary protection holders, temporary protection holders, asylum seekers, and other people in need of international protection.
In cases where differentiating information relating to each status is essential (i.e. regarding the right to work), this is clearly indicated.
Why hire refugees in Slovenia?
Access to decent employment is essential for refugees' self-sufficiency and protection against risks such as exploitation and abuse. In Slovenia, refugees and temporary protection holders can fully access the labour market after three months, while asylum-seekers can do so after three months. Early labour market integration promotes self-reliance and benefits employers, host communities, and the state. In 2024, nearly half of newly recognized refugees were already employed when they received the decision on their asylum applications, demonstrating this advantage.
Read more on the page of the Government Office for the Support and Integration of Migrants
The employment of refugees can increase productivity through new ideas, diverse teams, motivated teams, and lower turnover. In addition, in a 2023 pan-European research report by TENT, How Hiring Refugees Helps Brands, 51% of the more than 5,600 consumers surveyed in Europe indicated they are more likely to purchase from brands that hire refugees.
Read the TENT Report: How Hiring Refugees Helps Brands in Europe (2023)
How many refugees are there in Slovenia?
As of 2023, there were 11,000 refugees under UNHCR's mandate in Slovenia and 1,000 asylum-seekers. The countries of origin of refugees include primarily Ukraine (9,000 refugees), Syria, and Iran.
Visit the Refugee Data Finder to learn more
How many of them are working?
In 2024, UNHCR and the Slovenian Migration Institute of the Science and Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Science and Arts (SMI ZRC SAZU) conducted a Multi-Sector Needs Assessment, which revealed that while 82% of working-age refugees were employed in Ukraine before the 2022 crisis, only 25% were employed in Slovenia during the survey. Employment was the top priority for these individuals. By the end of 2023, the Employment Service of Slovenia reported that 53 asylum-seekers, 195 refugees, and 496 temporary protection holders were registered as job-seekers, of whom 159 had found a job.
Read the Multi-Sector Needs Assessment by UNHCR 2024
What are the main challenges?
The Employment Service has indicated that most refugees have found work where only essential Slovenian communication is required, which means that the language barrier is still a considerable factor hindering the full professional realization of refugees in Slovenia. According to UNHCR’s MSNA survey, 55% of respondents cite lack of local language knowledge (55%) as the main factor which inhibits employment opportunities, followed by inadequate employment opportunities aligned with their skills (37%) and lack of decent opportunities (low salaries, working hours, informal work; 17%).
As Slovenian companies face staff shortages, supporting refugees' access to the local labour market is a win-win strategy. Notably, between 60% and 80% of Ukrainian refugees have tertiary education, and most have had promising careers in their country. It would be doubly beneficial if they could be matched to suitable professions in Slovenia, considering the shortages in occupations such as health professions (doctors, healthcare professionals, dentists, physiotherapists, paramedics), bus and heavy lorry drivers, accountants, auditors, and programmers.
| Status | Who it applies to | Right to work? | Process |
| Asylum seeker | Individuals who have applied for international protection in the country but are still awaiting a decision on their case. | Applicants for international protection are granted free access to the labour market three months after submitting their application. During this time, they are also given access to vocational training courses under the conditions governing this area. | Once asylum seekers have the right to free access to the labour market, they can work without meeting other requirements. The Ministry of the Interior only issues them a notice stating that they meet the required conditions. |
| Refugee or subsidiary protection status | Individuals who have received international protection in the country. Refugee status is granted to those who, due to a fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, social group or political opinion, cannot enjoy the protection of their country of origin. Those not qualifying for refugee status may still receive subsidiary protection if they face a real risk if they return to their country of origin. | People with international protection have free access to the labour market in the Republic of Slovenia and do not need a work permit. Employers can thus employ them under the same conditions as Slovenian citizens and do not need to prepare additional documentation. | The hiring process is the same as that of Slovenian nationals. |
| Temporary protection status | Ukrainians and others fleeing Ukraine may apply for temporary protection status within 3 days of entering Slovenia. It is a much quicker process than applying for asylum because it only needs to determine the identity of Ukrainians fleeing the war. | Individuals with temporary protection status have the full right to work and do not have to request a work permit or notify the authorities. | The hiring process is the same as that of Slovenian nationals. |
Bear in mind
While all beneficiaries of international protection are entitled to fundamental rights, they have to sign an integration contract if they want to access the full scope of rights (accommodation in the integration house, a Slovenian language course, covering expenses of translations related to recognition and evaluation of education, etc.). They are also obligated to inform the authorities responsible for assistance with integration about changes in the individual's employment situation. There are no such requirements for beneficiaries of temporary protection.
The project of diploma recognition has been facilitated and comes at no cost for refugees.
An effort has also been made to include licensed doctors and dentists in the Slovene health system as quickly as possible, and a contact point for the recognition procedure for qualifications gained abroad has been established.
Temporary protection holders who are unemployed are not required to register with the Employment Service of Slovenia to receive social benefits and rent subsidies. However, unemployed international protection holders of working age must register with the Employment Service to access social benefits.
How do I connect with refugee talent?
The Employment Services in Ljubljana and Maribor employ exceptional staff to assist asylum seekers and other migrants. They assist with entering the workforce, finding employment, recognizing education, additional training, and obtaining qualifications. They are also available to support employers looking to connect with refugee candidates. In addition to the Employment Service of Slovenia, employers can tap into local non-governmental organizations working closely with the refugee community, such as Slovene Philanthropy, the Slovenian Red Cross, Caritas Slovenia, and the Counselling Office for Workers.
What can I do to support refugee employees?
Slovenian language is the most cited challenge for refugee employees, hindering their access to the labour market. Therefore, employers can offer or subsidize Slovenian language classes or partner with NGOs which provide such courses. In addition, paid internships are a straightforward approach to assessing a candidate's fit for a position, especially when lacking documented qualifications or professional experience. Finally, implementing strategic business initiatives that use the talents of refugees, such as their multilingual skills or overseas connections, may benefit both the company and the employee.
Useful resources
Subsidies
The Employment Services offer employers the opportunity to tap into existing programs to activate the unemployed, such as subsidies for employing young people under 29. One such program specifically targeted towards refugees and foreigners is on-the-job training of up to 6 months for which employers can be reimbursed.
Information by the government about the employment of Ukrainians in Slovenia.
Website of the Employment Service of Slovenia with information for employers and available subsidies.
InfoTujci is an informational website about migrants' and international protection holders' access to the labour market.