This paper focuses on the career transitions of highly skilled Ukrainian refugees, examining how they navigate labor market integration in Austria under the EU’s temporary protection directive. It explores how these individuals act and adapt in response to structural constraints, shaping their career choices and outcomes. The study builds on exploratory research, conducting semi-structured interviews with 13 members of support organizations and 20 highly skilled Ukrainian refugees based in Austria. The findings show that refugees face a constant risk of downward career mobility and illustrate how structural constraints dictate career-related decision-making, especially in an uncertain environment. We highlight the opportunities and risks associated with highly self-organized Ukrainian refugees and how they display a high degree of career proactivity. This research enhances our understanding of the integration of refugees in the labor market, focusing specifically on career transitions on the individual levels. Since integrating refugees is a global challenge, the results may help us understand the career transitions of other refugees.
