Bonding Social Capital, Afghan Refugees, and Early Access to Employment

Abstract

This IMR Research Note examines the impact of the level of bonding social capital on access to employment among newly arrived Afghan refugees in Victoria (Australia). Based on a mixed-methods analysis of biographical interviews with 80 Afghan refugees, it examines their use of social capital, year by year, during the first three years after their arrival. Our analysis shows that higher levels of bonding social capital are associated with greater success in finding employment during the first and second year of settlement. In the third year, however, bonding social capital for Afghan refugees in Victoria is no longer a significant predictor of employment. This Research Note helps clarify inconsistent findings in the literature on the effects of social capital on obtaining employment by suggesting that bonding social capital’s impact on refugee employment success changes significantly across the first three years after arrival. This finding has important implications for migration policy and the prioritization of resources toward services for newly arrived refugees.

Make Hay While the Sun Shines: How Community-Based Nonprofit Organizations Cultivate Refugees’ Social Capital and Disaster Resilience

“…In particular, bonding social capital enhances ethnic communities' solidarity and cultural practices, but might hinder refugees from participating in collective actions based on the shared norms of the host society. This phenomenon confirms the argument made by Vergani et al (2021): strong in-group networking discourages immigrants from reaching out to local residents, resulting in social isolation and segregation. While bonding social capital often leads to more social support, security, and stability (Iosifides et al, 2007), which contributes to the growth of disaster resilience, new evidence suggests that bonding social capital could hinder the growth of other forms of social capital.…”

“…Bonding social capital can provide social support, security, and stability, which enhances disaster resilience (Iosifides et al, 2007). However, Vergani et al (2021) found that in-group networking might increase migrants' risk of social isolation and segregation from local residents and citizens, which imposed a threat to disaster resilience.…”

Promoting workplace inclusion and self-efficacy among skilled migrant workers in Australia

“…, 2011). Inclusion means that migrant workers perceive themselves as “insiders” with access to social networks and influence in decision-making available to dominant group employees (Vergani et al. , 2021).…”

“…Inclusion of all employees is critical to leverage the benefits of workplace diversity (Mor-Barak et al, 2016;Shore et al, 2011). Inclusion means that migrant workers perceive themselves as "insiders" with access to social networks and influence in decision-making available to dominant group employees (Vergani et al, 2021). Migrants who are included feel encouraged to fully contribute to their work teams and organizations (Mor-Barak, 2015;Shore et al, 2011).…”

Integration Experiences of Former Afghan Refugees in Australia: What Challenges Still Remain after Becoming Citizens?

“…Today, there are over 2.6 million Afghan refugees living in Iran and Pakistan, and many more thousands scattered in 70 different countries, including Australia [ 7 ]. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics [ 8 ], there were 46,799 Afghanistan-born people living in Australia in 2016, the majority of them arrived in Australia as refugees [ 9 ].…”