The Knowledge Platform on Integration (Kennisplatform Integratie & Samenleving - KIS), together with Divosa, publishes an annual monitoring report on the labour market participation of refugees in the Netherlands. The 2019 report examines 2018 data. About 17% of refugees who arrived in 2015 now have a paid job. That is an increase of 4% compared to the previous year’s report.
However, two-thirds of refugees who are employed work below their education level, and often in temporary or part-time jobs. Refugees who are more distanced from the labour market, such as people with low literacy levels or health problems, have more difficulty entering the labour market. While this group receives extra support from municipalities, these efforts have not led this group overall to finding and retaining jobs. It is also clear that more attention needs to be given to the access of female refugees into the labour market, which is still lagging.
Since 2015, under the Participation Act, Dutch municipalities have been responsible for supporting the integration of refugees, including help with finding employment. Municipalities often rely on experts who provide custom guidance and coach refugees intensively in their job search. Refugees with higher education have especially benefited from the efforts of municipalities.
The 286 municipalities that participated in the 2019 monitor estimate that 63% of refugees receive social assistance benefits, compared to 72% the previous year. The entry of young refugees into education remains low.
Details
- Authors
- Marjan de Grutter, Inge Razenberg, Kirsten Tinnemans
- Geographic area
- Netherlands
- Contributor type
- Non-Governmental Organisations/Civil Society
- Original source
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