Labour Market Integration of Refugees in Austria: First Findings


Roland Hosner, International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD)

Among dimensions related to integration, participation in the labour market is one of the most important. Refugees frequently start off with multiple disadvantages when entering the labour market - such as lack of skills of the national language, educational and career breaks, complications in comparability and recognition of qualifications, discrimination, and health issues. Yet, empirical studies on the process and the determinants of labour market integration and success of refugees are so far scarce. Based on results from a survey among 1,198 refugees in Austria in 2016 and 2017, we are analysing determinants and outcomes of labour market participation. Key findings include the devaluation of foreign qualifications, mismatch of qualifications and job profiles for those employed, and labour market segmentation. Comparing immigration cohorts, it may take up to 9 years for participation rates and employment rates to reach those of other immigrants and non-migrants.



About the speaker

Roland Hosner is a migration and integration researcher at the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD). Roland serves as a focal point for survey design, migration and integration statistics at ICMPD. He is currently coordinating the pioneer panel survey among refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection in Austria (the project FIMAS+INTEGRATION), building on the implementation of the predecessor survey FIMAS. This panel survey focuses on education, qualifications and processes of labour market integration. Roland has also been involved in cross-sectional surveys on qualifications of asylum seekers in Austria (EQUAS, EQUAS+). His PhD project at Maastricht University/UNU-MERIT also focuses on comparative perspectives on labour market integration of refugees in Europe.



Venue: 0.16-0.17

Date: 15 November 2017

Time: 12:00 - 13:00  CET


UNU-MERIT