Labour Market Participation as an Indicator of Social Inclusion of Refugees: What the Research Tells Us

Labour market participation is key to the successful settlement of refugees. Being employed ‘increases both economic and social integration and, for refugees, offers the opportunity to gain self-esteem, to facilitate new social contacts and to learn or improve English language skills’ (Bloch 2004). Refugees continue to be more disadvantaged than other migrant groups. Of humanitarian migrants (predominantly refugees) arriving in Australia in 1999–2000, 75% were unemployed after six months; 43% were unemployed after 18–42 months (DIMIA 2005). Labour market constraints tend to force refugees to accept low-status and low-paid jobs; refugees consistently have the lowest levels of job satisfaction and the lowest average weekly income.