Refugees fail to secure jobs for their skills

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