Labor market situation of refugees in Europe: The role of individual and contextual factors

Abstract

The paper sheds light on the patterns of labor market integration of refugees in Western countries, who arrived primarily during the 2015–2016 mass refugee migration. Its major focus lies on the role of individual and contextual factors responsible for refugees' success in the labor market. At the host country level, the extent of permeability along the ethnic lines and the welcome of reception—both on the part of the majority population and the part of the established minorities—constitute further essential moderators of refugees' labor market success. This comprehensive literature overview draws on the flourishing body of research in Europe and beyond and discusses commonalities and differences across refugee origins and destinations while paying particular attention to the time trends and meaningful heterogeneities along with refugees' socio-demographic characteristics. We conclude by identifying major avenues for future research.

Explaining recently arrived refugees' labor market participation: The role of policy characteristics among Syrians in the Netherlands

“…Focusing on two of the three overarching clusters of explanatory characteristics (Huddleston et al, 2013), we showed which policy and individual characteristics explain these changes, partly through (re)gaining resources (Hobfoll, 2001). All in all, our findings indicate policy matters (see also: Kosyakova and Kogan, 2022). We find that a longer stay in reception centers reduces the chance of being employed (see also: de Vroome and van Tubergen, 2010;Bakker et al, 2014;Hainmueller et al, 2016;Hvidtfeldt et al, 2018;Kosyakova and Brenzel, 2020).…”

“…Yet, unlike other migrants, refugees, and especially those who have recently arrived, are highly subject to such policies in most European countries. Such settlement policy characteristics could hamper or promote refugees' resource gathering and consequently their labor market participation (Kogan, 2007;Kanas and Steinmetz, 2021;Kosyakova and Kogan, 2022).…”

“…Using the Netherlands as an example, our study provides insight into labor market positions within a cohort of 2,379 recently arrived Syrian refugees in the Netherlands. Adding to previous studies, we emphasize the impact of a wide variety of settlement policy characteristics (reception, civic integration, and regional unemployment rates), utilizing the opportunity to understand which of such characteristics are beneficial for recently arrived refugees' economic incorporation (Kosyakova and Kogan, 2022). Second, we examine employment among recent arrivals by employing two waves of survey data from refugees in the Netherlands who received a residence permit between 2014 and 2016 (consistent with the peak of the refugee influx in Europe).…”

Relationship between working conditions and mental health of migrants and refugees/asylum seekers vs. natives in Europe: a systematic review

“…These include, e.g., migrants being mainly employed in low-skilled jobs (Arici et al 2019 ; Kosyakova and Kogan 2022 ), receiving lower payment (Kosyakova and Kogan 2022 ; Moyce and Schenker 2018 ), facing greater risk of health hazards at work (Malhotra et al 2013 ; Moyce and Schenker 2018 ; Yanar et al 2018 ) and being more likely to suffer from exploitation and abuse (Moyce and Schenker 2018 ). Migrants from low- and middle-income countries (Hargreaves et al 2019 ) as well as women (Kosyakova and Kogan 2022 ; Moyce and Schenker 2018 ; Rubiales-Gutiérrez et al 2010 ) are particularly affected. These adverse working conditions might impact mental health (Hargreaves et al 2019 ; Malhotra et al 2013 ).…”

“…These adverse working conditions might impact mental health (Hargreaves et al 2019 ; Malhotra et al 2013 ). In addition, migrants and especially refugees (due to the flight experience itself (Heeren et al 2014 ; Kosyakova and Kogan 2022 ) and a subsequent asylum process in the host country that may be experienced as traumatic (Laban et al 2004 )) are generally considered particularly vulnerable in terms of their mental health. In various studies, migrants reported higher prevalence rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Close et al 2016 ) and lower general and mental health (Arici et al 2019 ) compared to natives.…”