News

Nearly half of all refugees working in Britain have less skilled jobs than in their home countries, according to new government research into the characteristics of refugees.

The report from the Department for Work and Pensions found that 40 per cent of refugees said they had skills which did not help them find a paid job in Britain.

Refugees said they previously worked in farming, healthcare, retail and teaching, but were now employed in catering, shop and clerical work and translation.

A quarter of the refugees surveyed were in temporary jobs, many because they could not find a permanent job, and just 35 per cent worked full-time. More than one in four has university or further education qualifications.

Jo Cleary, director of social services at City of London council, said the skills of asylum seekers were not being utilised by social services at a time when there is a recruitment crisis in the sector because many face restrictions on when they can work.

'Refugee’ Opportunities and Barriers in Employment and Training' from http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/rrep179.html