Exploring the impacts of the COVID‐19 crisis for the employment prospects of refugees and people seeking asylum in Australia

Abstract

As recent research indicates, refugees and people seeking asylum are suffering disproportionately from the COVID‐19 pandemic and have become more and more “shut out” and marginalised. An important pathway to integration and self‐reliance is sustainable employment. To explore the impacts of COVID‐19 on the employment prospects of refugees and people seeking asylum, we conducted 35 interviews with managers from Australian organisations that employ or assist refugees and asylum seekers in finding employment and 20 interviews with refugees and people seeking asylum. Our interviews indicate that the labour market has become more difficult for these groups in the COVID‐19 era due to (1) declines in job availabilities, (2) loss of jobs, (3) increased competition in the labour market and (4) increased discrimination and an “Australian first” mentality. Our interviews further suggest four strategies to improve employment prospects in the current situation: (1) pathways to permanent residency and citizenship for people seeking asylum; (2) access to healthcare and a financial safety net; (3) online training and education; and (4) social procurement.

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