Social Impact

Connecting Ukrainian Refugees To Jobs In Spain

In just three weeks, Oliver Wyman launched an online platform for refugees to find jobs 

The Spanish government has been coordinating efforts to accommodate the 155,000 (and counting) Ukrainian refugees arriving in Spain since their country was invaded in early 2022. Immediately after the war began, Spanish authorities asked Oliver Wyman for help developing a plan for the refugees’ long-term inclusion in the country.

Partnering with the Fundacion CEOE (the Foundation of the Chamber of Businesses and Industries), and Universia (part of Santander Bank), Oliver Wyman developed an online platform for Ukrainian refugees to find jobs tailored to their needs.

And they launched the website in a matter of weeks. 

Not helping was not an option. Since the very first day, we put our teams and minds at the disposal of the government and Fundacion CEOE, with a clear focus on delivering quick and significant impact to mitigate the situation
Pablo Campos, Partner and Chair, Oliver Wyman Iberia

An Oliver Wyman for Society Social Impact project team designed, coordinated, and helped deploy a marketplace that connects company needs with Ukrainian talent. The team designed the functioning of the platform (technology and user specifications) and the outreach to companies to post jobs, and Oliver Wyman advised users on accessing the web-based tool. Additionally, the team opened on-site stands in Ukrainian refugee centers in Spain. Given all that was at stake for the refugees, the timeline was urgent. The platform was up and running in three weeks.

As of November 2022, just 8 months after the launch of the platform, its impact is clear.

  • Companies posted more than 7,000 jobs on the platform.
  • On average, more than 1,200 users access the platform each week.
  • In total, more than 1,000 refugees have found jobs through the tool.
Oliver Wyman shares the same values as Fundacion CEOE. Companies can play a fundamental, positive role in the societies in which they operate, and Oliver Wyman has definitely done this through its successful collaboration on this project. The consulting team made it possible to launch a well-functioning platform within weeks
Ms. Fatima Bañez, President of Fundacion CEOE, former minister of Employment, Social Security, and Migrations

The platform is a central hub that combines information from multiple government agencies and NGOs and provides employment opportunities and training from reliable sources. The work continues to have impact and was recently presented to the First Lady of the United States, Dr. Jill Biden, and to Her Majesty, Queen Letizia of Spain.

Seeing commitment and investment from our company in topics that have a tangible positive impact on society makes you proud to work at Oliver Wyman
Gonzalo Arana, Principal, Oliver Wyman

Gonzalo Arana (left) presents the work to dignitaries in Madrid including Her Majesty, Queen Letizia of Spain, the visiting First Lady of the United States, Dr. Jill Biden, and several members of Spanish Government, including the Minister for Social Security, Inclusion, and Migrations