Preliminary Findings: Review of the Labour Market Integra=on of Rese>led Refugees

Transcription

1 Preliminary Findings: Review of the Labour Market Integra=on of Rese>led Refugees Presenta(on for the Annual Tripar(te Consulta(ons on Rese5lement Geneva, Switzerland - 3 July 2013 Ellie O> UNHCR Consultant Centre for Evidence- Based Interven=on University of Oxford eleanor.o>@gmail.com

2 We want to be engaged in the workforce equally. - New Land, New Life report, focus group, New Zealand Governments should understand the nature of the refugees arriving and put us with the jobs that [ ] allow the life to sustain. - Older Bhutanese refugee woman, Pi>sburgh, USA

3 Outline 1. Scope and the nature of the review Defini=on complexity 2. Common struggles: the refugee gap 3. Employment programming: the literature gap 4. Ten promising prac=ces

4 Scope and nature of the review Literature review Discussions with experts Systema=c review Findings

5 Defining labour market integra=on Defini=onal differences Labour market par=cipa=on Income Poverty Employment commensurate with experience and qualifica=ons Employment reten=on Occupa=onal mobility Other measures Short or long- term outcomes Refugees own perspec=ves omi>ed in measures Rese>lement thought of as a primarily humanitarian not economic programme

6 Common struggles: the refugee gap In general, rese>led refugees have poorer labour market outcomes in regards to labour market par=cipa=on, wages, and underemployment than na=ve- born individuals and other immigrant groups, including asylum- seekers. The refugee gap is well- documented in Australia, Canada, Sweden, and Norway.

7 Common struggles: the refugee gap May include Barriers Group Differentiation Time in country Past history lack of opportunity for employment Trauma Criteria for entry and demographic differences language educa=on physical health Social networks & capital Discrimina=on Some groups and individuals do be>er Age Gender Marital status and family demographics Disability Origin and ethnic group Rese>lement environment Gap narrows and disappears over =me Li>le concern over earlier waves of rese>led refugees

8 Employment programming: the literature gap Most literature does not separate rese>led refugees Or disaggregate among rese>led refugees Immigrants Refugees Literature about: - Employment programmes - Welfare recipients Rese>led refugees

9 Employment programming: the literature gap Systema=c review of RCTs Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) Controlled longitudinal studies Uncontrolled longitudinal studies Most studies designs are those towards the bo>om of this pyramid. The designs make it difficult to conclude X causes Y and best prac=ces. Cross- sec=onal and case studies Expert opinions

10 Ten Promising Prac=ces 1 1) Research, monitoring, and disaggrega(on of the needs of refugees and employers 2) Managing pre- rese5lement expecta(ons 3) Individualised employment plans- of- ac(ons 1 Based on interviews as well as policy, prac=ce, and academic literature.

11 Ten Promising Prac=ces cont. 4) General outreach and partnering with employers / the private sector 5) Placements with employers (subsidized or unsubsidized) 6) Voca(onally- focused language courses with integrated work experience

12 Ten Promising Prac=ces cont. 7) Assistance with recer(fica(on 8) Microenterprise and alterna(ve employment programmes 9) Partnering with the broader community 10) Mechanisms for sharing promising prac(ces

13 Emerging picture Demonstrated need and desire to improve labour market integra=on engage in the workforce equally Li>le is known about how to improve services Numerous promising prac=ces Important to maintain: Long- term perspec=ve Purpose of rese>lement allowing the life to sustain

14 Thank you Helen Morris and Jeff Crisp at UNHCR/PDES And those who spoke or advised me, including Agos=no Mulas Alexander de Chalus Amanda Aye Amy Casipullai Andres Ramirez Antoine>e Tanguay Chantal Drolet Chris Friesen Claude>e Legault Corrine Prince- St- Amand David Jason Karp Debbie Douglas Deborah Tunis Edwin Silverman Emilie Wiinblad Fabio Varoli Fariborz Birjandian Gail Hopkins Gordana Radan Greg Wangerin Hannah Entwisle Inma Serrano Jean Seguin Jennifer Brennan Johannes van der Klaauw Johannes Van Gemund Jose Sieber Luz Judi McCallum Karin Davin Karina Sommers Karolina Lindholm Billing Larry Yungk Lisa Raffonelli Liza Bau=sta Lucy Morgan Marco Formisano Melineh Kano Michael Casasola Mike Clayton Miranda Pi>away Mohja Alia Nicol U Nikki Cicerani Norbert Trosien Oskar Ekblad Paul Stein Perveen Ali Pieter Bevelander Ron Munia Stephan Reichhold Tim Hilton Upwardly Global Yukiko Iriyama And, the Bhutanese Community Associa=on of Pi>sburgh for the use of their photos

15 Ques=ons/Comments

16 Extra Slides

17 Age, gender, and diversity Some highlighted different groups for labour market integra(on: Age Genera=ons 1 st, 1.5, 2 nd, etc. Gender Religion Family demographics Country of origin Ethnic group Educa=on level Disability Intellectual, physical, mental, etc. Long- term illnesses Li5le to no literature on labour market and: Caste/ Socio- economic status LGBTI refugees Many minority groups

18 Factors theorised to affect rese>led refugees labour market integra=on Demographic variables: gender, age, marital status, household size, having children, disability, origin and ethnic group, =me in country, health, mental health, secondary migra=on Pre- migra=on history: trauma, years as a refugees, urban/rural origin, ini=al language level Human capital: pervious work experience, self- efficacy, accultura=on aotudes, educa=on level, host country language skills, training since arrival Receiving agencies variables: type of services, dura=on, intensity, and quality of services Receiving community assets: language opportuni=es, educa=on and training opportuni=es, availability and appropriateness of services, discrimina=on, geographic region, aotude of the community towards refugees, broader social and economic climate, level and dura=on of welfare assistance, access to transport Social capital: social networks, feeling a valued member of ethnic community, social support, workplace ethnic composi=on, informal and formal assistance

19 Recommended resources UNHCR (2002) Refugee Rese>lement: An Interna=onal Handbook to Guide Recep=on and Integra=on. Especially Chapter 2.9: Building Bridges to Economic Self- Sufficiency: Employment and Training Papadopoulou, A., Treviranus, B., Mor=z, T., & Fandrich, C. M. (2013). Compara(ve study on the best prac(ces for the integra(on of rese5led refugees in the EU member states. Brussels: European Union. UNHCR (2013) The Integra=on of Rese>led Refugees Essen=als for Establishing a Rese>lement Programme and Fundamentals for Sustainable Rese>lement Programmes