Work

Refugee women and work: Evidence from an Australian longitudinal study

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Obtaining employment is a high priority for people with refugee backgrounds in countries of resettlement and an important aspect of integration. There are a range of barriers to gaining work for new arrivals; however, much of the existing quantitative evidence on characteristics of employment and facilitators and barriers to work faced by refugees does not consider gender or focuses primarily on men. We used a large, longitudinal survey of over 2000 refugees to Australia to identify characteristics of employment for refugee women and factors associated with the likelihood of employment. Refugee women had lower rates of employment compared with pre‐migration and were concentrated in lower‐skilled occupations. There were gender differences in predictors of employment outcomes and English language proficiency, living outside major cities and self‐assessed health were all significant determinants of employment for refugee women. The findings highlight the need for specifically considering the employment trajectories of refugee women and the importance of a gender‐informed employment strategy for new arrivals.

Source: International Migration

DOI: 10.1111/imig.13326

Authors: Joanne Flavel, Clemence Due, Joanna Howe, Anna Ziersch

Institutions: The University of Adelaide, Flinders University

Language: English

Topic: Migration and Labor Dynamics

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Gender equality, Decent work and economic growth, Reduced inequalities, No poverty, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,500