Labour market marginalisation among refugees from different countries of birth: a prospective cohort study on refugees to Sweden

Abstract

BackgroundThe aim was to elucidate if the risk of labour market marginalisation (LMM), measured as long-term unemployment, long-term sickness absence, disability pension and a combined measure of these three measures, differed between refugees and non-refugee migrants with different regions of birth compared with native Swedes.MethodsAll non-pensioned individuals aged 19–60 years who were resident in Sweden on 31 December 2009 were included (n=4 441 813, whereof 216 930 refugees). HRs with 95% CIs were computed by Cox regression models with competing risks and time-dependent covariates with a follow-up period of 2010–2013.ResultsRefugees had in general a doubled risk (HR: 2.0, 95% CI 1.9 to 2.0) and non-refugee migrants had 70% increased risk (HR: 1.7, 95% CI 1.7 to 1.7) of the combined measure of LMM compared with native Swedes. Refugees from Somalia (HR: 2.7, 95% CI 2.6 to 2.8) and Syria (HR: 2.5, 95% CI 2.5 to 2.6) had especially high risk estimates of LMM, mostly due to high risk estimates of long-term unemployment (HR: 3.4, 95% CI 3.3 to 3.5 and HR: 3.2, 95% CI 3.1 to 3.2). African (HR: 0.7, 95% CI 0.6 to 0.7) and Asian (HR: 1.0, 95% CI 1.0 to 1.1) refugees had relatively low risk estimates of long-term sickness absence compared with other refugee groups. Refugees from Europe had the highest risk estimates of disability pension (HR: 1.9, 95% CI 1.8 to 2.0) compared with native Swedes.ConclusionRefugees had in general a higher risk of all measures of LMM compared with native Swedes. There were, however, large differences in risk estimates of LMM between subgroups of refugees and with regard to type of LMM. Actions addressing differences between subgroups of refugees is therefore crucial in order to ensure that refugees can obtain as well as retain a position on the labour market.

Mental disorders and suicidal behavior in refugees and Swedish-born individuals: is the association affected by work disability?

“…through lack of information. Refugees might also be less eligible for SA, as those benefits require income from earlier work, and unemployment is more common among refugees [23]. Finally, it may very well be so that the effect of WD on the association between mental disorder and suicidal behavior, in fact, differs for refugees and Swedish-born individuals.…”

“…A recent Swedish study examining the risk of labor market marginalization (LMM), i.e. severe problems in finding and keeping a job, in refugees, showed that refugees in general had an elevated risk of LMM when compared to the Swedish-born population [ 23 ]. According to another Swedish study examining the associations between mental disorders and LMM, among young adults aged 20–35 years with mental disorders, all immigrants had a lower risk of SA and DP, compared with the Swedish-born population [ 20 ].…”

A Scoping Review and Conceptual Model of Social Participation and Mental Health among Refugees and Asylum Seekers

“…Furthermore, the scarcity of studies that include psychiatric disorders [51,84], either as an antecedent or as sequalae of poor social participation, indicate that empirical research into the social conditions of RAS on one hand, and clinical forms of mental health issues on the other hand, remain in disjunction. Apart from recent epidemiological studies that have assessed the risk for labour market marginalization associated with mental disorders among refugees [101], the lack of studies may be a result of the lack of a comprehensive and measurable conceptualization of social participation. Given the requirement of valid assessment and effective markers of both outcomes and explanatory variables in clinical and epidemiological studies [102], an empirically based model and definition of social participation, as presented in the current review, may serve as a basis for development of assessment methods for social participation.…”

The role of refugee status and mental disorders regarding subsequent labour market marginalisation: a register study from Sweden

“…Migrants have in general a weaker attachment to the labour market compared to Swedish-born individuals [2], and particularly non-Western migrants have been shown to have a lower educational level compared to both Western migrants and Swedish-born individuals, which contributes to marginalization on the labour market [3]. A group that has received little attention in research regarding labour market marginalization are refugees, who generally have higher risks of both, unemployment and disability pension [4].…”