Refugees employment and skills support study

An independent study looking at the employment aspirations, skills and experience of refugees and asylum seekers and the barriers they face in finding employment.

Main findings

Most refugees and asylum seekers wanted to find work that matches their interests. Two thirds of those spoken to wanted to continue working in the same occupation they held before seeking asylum.

Skills and qualifications level vary, reflecting the diversity of the refugee and asylum seeker population. Rates of participation in English for speakers of other languages provision were high, but participation in other types of education were more limited.

40% of those interviewed who were entitled to work were in work. This figure does conceal differences according to gender, skill level and length of time in the UK.

A key barrier to employment was a misalignment between their aspirations and their skills and the expectations of employers. Even where aspirations were aligned other barriers linked to enforced migration were present as were more generic barriers.

Reports