Drawing from 40 interviews and four focus groups with organisational leaders and worker-volunteers of a refugee community as a case study, this article examines how self-sufficiency as a resettlement policy goal manifests at the end of the policy line. The authors argue that diminution of self-sufficiency into job placement reflects a work-first, time-limited focus, while deindividualisation conveys neglect for individual circumstances. We also argue that the implementation of self-sufficiency as a policy goal, even as it is diminished and deindividualised, manifests with valuation, denoting how acts of implementation carry value-laden expressions that idealise the refugee-worker.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Drawing from 40 interviews and four focus groups with organisational leaders and worker-volunteers of a refugee community as a case study, this article examines how self-sufficiency as a resettlement policy goal manifests at the end of the policy line. The authors argue that diminution of self-sufficiency into job placement reflects a work-first, time-limited focus, while deindividualisation conveys neglect for individual circumstances. We also argue that the implementation of self-sufficiency as a policy goal, even as it is diminished and deindividualised, manifests with valuation, denoting how acts of implementation carry value-laden expressions that idealise the refugee-worker.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Social Work, 16(1/2), 2007, pp.127-159.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA
Self-employment and entrepreneurship may be particularly appealing to refugees, and this study is based on interviews with six refugee entrepreneurs, 27 refugees and immigrants, nine refugee service providers, two staff at community organisations and six technical assistance providers. The majority were from the Austin and San Antonio metropolitan regions. Success factors for entrepreneurship
Self-employment and entrepreneurship may be particularly appealing to refugees, and this study is based on interviews with six refugee entrepreneurs, 27 refugees and immigrants, nine refugee service providers, two staff at community organisations and six technical assistance providers. The majority were from the Austin and San Antonio metropolitan regions. Success factors for entrepreneurship included personal characteristics and attitudes (such as access to family and community networks, prior experience, and the ability to speak and write English) and community or agency factors (such as access to human and financial resources, strategic partnerships and mentorship). Challenges to entrepreneurship also operated at the personal and community level, and included illiteracy and lack of language skills, stress, lack of knowledge of the US business system, lack of financial literacy and access to capital, and unfavourable economic conditions. The implications for service provision to refugee entrepreneurs are discussed. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).
This working paper paints a worrying picture of refugee unemployment in the UK. Despite arriving with diverse and often valuable skills, refugees face considerable barriers in gaining employment that matches those skills. The author argues that getting refugees into employment is key to their successful integration into the UK and suggests strategies for how Government policy can reflect
This working paper paints a worrying picture of refugee unemployment in the UK. Despite arriving with diverse and often valuable skills, refugees face considerable barriers in gaining employment that matches those skills. The author argues that getting refugees into employment is key to their successful integration into the UK and suggests strategies for how Government policy can reflect the importance of this goal.
Subject terms:
labour market, qualifications, refugees, employment;
The Government's skills strategy is focused on helping people gain new skills, but what about highly-qualified refugees and asylum seekers who want to utilise the skills they already possess. This article reports on ASSET UK, a project to help asylum seekers and refugees in the East Midlands to re-orientate their skills to UK needs.
The Government's skills strategy is focused on helping people gain new skills, but what about highly-qualified refugees and asylum seekers who want to utilise the skills they already possess. This article reports on ASSET UK, a project to help asylum seekers and refugees in the East Midlands to re-orientate their skills to UK needs.
Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 31(4), July 2005, pp.615-638.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
This paper explores of the largest recent refugee group, Bosnians. It is argued that Bosnians (and other ex-Yugoslavs) were Australia's preferred humanitarian immigrants during the 1990s because of their European background and because of the presence of ex-Yugoslav communities in Australia. The ‘whiteness’/‘Europeanness’ of Bosnians enabled them to remain largely ‘invisible’ in the country they perceived as ‘white Australia’ and to initially claim an ‘insider status’. For many people, however, this self-inclusion is thwarted in the second stage of resettlement when they are expected to find jobs and ‘acculturate’, as the language barrier and their non-English-speaking background become a basis of difference and potential exclusion. Their economic and social inclusion thus appears to be determined by factors beyond visibility and remains limited almost a decade after the largest wave of Bosnians arrived in Australia.
This paper explores of the largest recent refugee group, Bosnians. It is argued that Bosnians (and other ex-Yugoslavs) were Australia's preferred humanitarian immigrants during the 1990s because of their European background and because of the presence of ex-Yugoslav communities in Australia. The ‘whiteness’/‘Europeanness’ of Bosnians enabled them to remain largely ‘invisible’ in the country they perceived as ‘white Australia’ and to initially claim an ‘insider status’. For many people, however, this self-inclusion is thwarted in the second stage of resettlement when they are expected to find jobs and ‘acculturate’, as the language barrier and their non-English-speaking background become a basis of difference and potential exclusion. Their economic and social inclusion thus appears to be determined by factors beyond visibility and remains limited almost a decade after the largest wave of Bosnians arrived in Australia.
Looks at the evidence which suggests that not only has the 1996 Immigration and Asylum Act resulted in employers becoming increasingly reluctant to employ refugees, it has also led to unscrupulous employers using the Act as a kind of threat against its refugee staff members.
Looks at the evidence which suggests that not only has the 1996 Immigration and Asylum Act resulted in employers becoming increasingly reluctant to employ refugees, it has also led to unscrupulous employers using the Act as a kind of threat against its refugee staff members.
Divided into 13 sections including: refugees in the UK; legal status; applying for asylum; family reunions; travel and travel documents; welfare benefits; housing; education; employment; Community Charge.
Divided into 13 sections including: refugees in the UK; legal status; applying for asylum; family reunions; travel and travel documents; welfare benefits; housing; education; employment; Community Charge.
Journal of Youth Studies, 17(9), 2014, pp.1260-1276.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA
The impact of the UK Coalition government's cuts has catastrophically impacted advisory and support services to refugee young people. Many bespoke refugee services have ceased with the alternative being conventional information sources that lack specialist knowledge of the unique situation of refugees. Taking an autonomy approach, this qualitative research study discusses the benefits of the now
(Publisher abstract)
The impact of the UK Coalition government's cuts has catastrophically impacted advisory and support services to refugee young people. Many bespoke refugee services have ceased with the alternative being conventional information sources that lack specialist knowledge of the unique situation of refugees. Taking an autonomy approach, this qualitative research study discusses the benefits of the now obsolete refugee advisory service, the Refugee Integration and Employment Service, with current sources of welfare-to-work programmes. In conclusion, it argues that without targeted sources of information, advice and support refugee young people will struggle to make informed strategic decisions about their future careers.
(Publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
refugees, employment, advice services, young people, education;
Health and Social Care in the Community, 19(5), September 2011, pp.468-475.
Publisher:
Wiley
Refugees have the potential to contribute to the labour force of receiving countries, especially social care, where demand for labour is increasing and high vacancy rates exist. This study examined the potential of refugee communities to work in social care in England, based on interviews with 20 refugees and asylum seekers and 5 representatives of refugee support groups. Interviews were analysed
Refugees have the potential to contribute to the labour force of receiving countries, especially social care, where demand for labour is increasing and high vacancy rates exist. This study examined the potential of refugee communities to work in social care in England, based on interviews with 20 refugees and asylum seekers and 5 representatives of refugee support groups. Interviews were analysed thematically, guided by a theoretical framework linking employment, migration and the nature of care work. Findings indicate a general willingness of refugee participants to join the care workforce. Individual and structural barriers to increased employability were identified, as well as possible strategies to overcome them. The authors concluded that, although the findings and discussions were specific to the care sector, most were more general and may inform strategies designed to maximise refugees’ employment in other sectors.
Subject terms:
immigrants, labour market, refugees, social care staff, employment;