Identity work in refugee workforce integration: The role of newcomer support organizations

Abstract

How does professional employment support provided by newcomer support organizations (NSOs) influence highly-skilled refugees’ professional identities and workforce integration? To answer this question, we draw on interviews with 25 managers and staff of NSOs in Canada and 11 recently arrived, highly-skilled refugees. We contribute to the literature on refugee workforce integration by shedding light on the dynamic process of employment support in which NSOs engage in sensegiving practices and influence refugees’ understanding of career options, assessment of opportunities, and their professional identity responses. We found that NSOs attempted to manage refugees’ expectations of career opportunities while fostering hope for the future and that refugees reacted to NSOs’ sensegiving practices by resisting expectation management messages, recrafting a new identity, or bracketing the present as transitory. We highlight the role of external agents in sensemaking and identity work by exploring work role transitions caused by forced migration. Furthermore, we uncover the dynamics of power and contextual constraints that influence sensegiving interactions. From a practical point of view, we argue that in the absence of quality employment opportunities, the reliance on refugees’ resilience and their motivation for long-term professional integration may further marginalize them.

Refugee employment support: The HRM–CSR nexus and stakeholder co‐dependency

“…Research suggests NPOs act as the first point of contact for refugees in accessing information, developing social networks and obtaining other support services during their resettlement (Griffiths et al, 2005;Nardon et al, 2020). NPOs assist refugees with social support and knowledge of local labour market conditions (Steimel, 2017;Tomlinson & Egan, 2002), educational support, local language courses and vocational skills training (Clarke, 2014;Matikainen, 2003).…”

The role of talent intermediaries in accessing and developing refugee talent pools

“…Cara's approach echoes recent findings that posit that sector specific support is more effective in ensuring professional employment for refugees (Campion, 2018). Next, we discuss how Cara plays a role, like other newcomer support organisations (Nardon et al, 2020), in empowering refugees in the receiving economy (Lacroix et al, 2015).…”

“…The migration literature points to the support organisations that assist refugees with resettlement and workforce integration, also termed newcomer support organisations (Nardon et al, 2020). These organisations often act as intermediaries amongst refugees, employers and other relevant stakeholders (McAllum, 2017), including NGOs, non-profit organisations, social enterprises, governmental initiatives, and government-sponsored or government-contracted organizations (McIntosh and Cockburn-Wootten, 2019).…”

“…Cara collaborates with key sector stakeholders such as the British Academy, the Royal Society and the British Council to host development and networking events as well as ensuring in-kind support or fee-waivers for their Fellows. Organisations that support refugees, like Cara, are able to facilitate support provision by leveraging social actors and resource (Nardon et al, 2020). Cara has also created a network of UK Universities and recently reported there were 121 members.…”

“…Described as "agents of human development" (Agunias, 2009, p. 2), intermediaries can be an important lifeline to migrant workers and global talent alike. Whilst there are recent studies that focus on refugee support organisations broadly (Nardon et al, 2020), little is known about talent intermediaries that specifically support refugees with workforce integration and career development. Furthermore, recent research positions Talent Management as a social practice "concerned with empowerment and social justice realms" (Metcalfe et al, 2020, p. 9), calling for a more inclusive and responsible approach (Swailes, 2020) that could account for refugee experiences.…”