Overlooked Potential? Childcare Services and Ukrainian Refugee Mothers in Germany

This article examines whether refugee mothers in high-income countries can benefit from universal childcare services. Using a large, representative survey of Ukrainian refugees in Germany linked with administrative area-level information, we estimate the effects of childcare services on mothers’ participation in language and integration courses, employment, language skills, social contact with Germans, feeling welcome, and subjective well-being. To address potential biases from omitted variables and endogeneity, we complement ordinary least-squares estimations with a formal assessment of unobserved factors and an instrumental variable approach, using local childcare coverage rates as the instrument. Results indicate that mothers increase their participation in integration and language classes as well as labor market engagement when their child attends childcare services. Additionally, childcare attendance is associated with mothers’ improved German skills and more frequent contact with German residents, confirming that childcare centers can foster bridging ties. We find no effect on maternal well-being. Although our selected outcomes cannot capture the full range of Ukrainian refugee mothers’ experiences in Germany, the outcomes extend beyond traditional labor market indicators, underscoring the broader integrative function of childcare services.