Finding your way into employment against all odds? Successful job search of refugees in Austria

Abstract

Labour market entry poses enormous challenges for recently arrived refugees, ranging from language barriers, devaluation of human capital, unfamiliarity with customs of the job search process to outright discrimination. How can refugees overcome these challenges and quickly enter gainful employment? In this paper, we draw on interviews with 26 male and female refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran, conducted in 2017 and 2018, who came to Austria in 2015 and 2014 and who have successfully entered employment. We depict refugees' own perspectives on and strategies for fast job entry and integration. Personal agency and a proactive approach of seeking and seizing opportunities are key for overcoming initial barriers and entering upon positive integration pathways. At the same time, refugees' personal agency is essential for establishing social ties to the host society, which also play a crucial role in early labour market integration. Finally, institutions of the Austrian labour market (the 'apprenticeship'-system) interact with refugees' agency in most intricate ways, both setting up nearly insurmountable barriers but also providing specific opportunities for refugees.

Factors Shaping the Lived Experience of Resettlement for Former Refugees in Regional Australia

“…The provision of English language courses tailored to specific industries in demand in regional areas would likely be beneficial in this regard. Career mentoring for recently arrived former refugees could focus on matching existing skills sets and qualifications with job roles and career pathways, thus helping to alleviate the effects of system-level barriers and qualification nontransferability [38]. Government funding schemes could provide local employers with incentives for employing refugees, such as through subsidised apprenticeships, particularly for in-demand trades which are failing to attract local job seekers.…”

Job quality of refugees in Austria: Trade-offs between multiple workplace characteristics

“…Most refugees have only limited knowledge and experience of how to gather information on job vacancies, how to appropriately apply for a job (e.g. preparing resumes in writing and having a job interview) and how to credibly signal their qualifications (Baranik et al, 2018; Eggenhofer-Rehart et al, 2018; Verwiebe et al, 2019). Many refugees have lost their formal credentials on their flight, or their education and vocational training do not meet standards expected by recruiters (Lundborg and Skedinger, 2016; OECD and UNHCR, 2018).…”

“…ÖBB Group, 2020; REWE Group, 2020). However, previous research revealed that refugees face severe difficulties in finding a job due to limited informal knowledge about the job market, their lack of professional skills and insufficient language proficiency (Eggenhofer-Rehart et al, 2018; Van Tubergen, 2011; Verwiebe et al, 2019). If refugees eventually find a job, often they are underpaid and overqualified, and they feel exploited at work (Bakker et al, 2017; Baranik et al, 2018; Colic-Peisker and Tilbury, 2006; Knappert et al, 2018; Lamba, 2003; OECD, 2016).…”

Integration of refugees at universities: Austria’s more initiative

“…Naidoo et al (2018) argue for conceptualizing the process of integrating refugee students in new educational contexts must be seen as a holistic process resulting in an enabling culture building on assets of its addressees. When reviewing recent studies on the situation in Austria, Verwiebe et al (2018) conclude that ties to localsvolunteers and others willing to seek exchanges with refugees-may open doors for refugees, as these ties open venues so that social capital can be generated in a Bourdieu-inspired sense.…”

“…While civil society at large is still willing to help those in need, this has become noticeable among members of the public, and both the political narrative and societal climate regarding migration-and refugees in particular-has worsened drastically (Bacher 2017). Right-wing and populist parties rose to power, capitalizing on the population's fears (Verwiebe et al 2018). This resulted in the so-called border protection and the enforcement of restrictive policies to minimize immigration (Bodlos and Plescia 2018).…”