A Path to Independence: How Employment Transforms Refugees' Lives

Working opportunities are more than just income. For refugees who have fled war, violence and persecution, the initial step towards formal employment means new beginnings – an opportunity to contribute, to build their lives, to become independent again. A nourishing future for refugees across the world means being able to financially support one’s family and make a contribution to society. It’s also about growing into the now instead of remaining caught in the turmoil of the past.

The Role of Employment in Restoring Dignity

Displacement can cause refugees to lose their livelihoods, their homes, and their identities. Many refugees come to Australia with little more than the clothes they are wearing, and after fleeing from successful careers, businesses or educational endeavours. For refugees, the loss of paid employment constitutes a fundamental assault not only on their financial situation, but also on their dignity. Work is a source of meaning and achievement needed to achieve flourishing.

And work can help restore a sense of self-worth to refugees. Beginning a new career or resuming the old one can allow them to become contributing members of their new communities and to regain the respect of others for their skills and talents – a critical factor for refugees who might have spent years in limbo in a refugee camp or a tent.

For example, my friend Mohamed came to Australia as a refugee from South Sudan. He’d been in a refugee camp for over 10 years before coming to Australia for resettlement. It was not easy for him to come to a new country and learn a new language and culture. At the same time, like many refugees, Mohamed was highly motivated to find work. A refugee employment service took over many of the job-search chores for him. Eventually he was placed with a construction company where his work ethic and skills were quickly valued. Mohamed is just one of many examples of how employment provides the means for people to rebuild their lives, gain a sense of dignity and a future for themselves and their families.

Financial Independence and Long-Term Stability

One of the most urgent benefits of employment is financial independence. Refugees who have received cash assistance from humanitarian organisations or government programmes for years will now have the means to buy their own food and clothes, and for whatever else their families need. Having an income can be the immediate first step to long-term stability, enabling refugees to secure shelter, education and healthcare for their families.

Moreover, work creates a future for refugees. If a refugee family has an income, they can invest in their children’s educations, save, and plan for the future. They’re not as dependent on social services and welfare programmes, and are more likely to contribute to the general economy.

In the longer term, refugees who are able to find jobs that allow them to make use of their skills and grow into their roles are more likely to be able to advance to more senior levels, by putting their experience to good use and learning new ones. The skills and the expectations that come with ‘draining away’ help to break the cycle of poverty that keeps displaced populations locked in a state of dependency.

Building Professional Networks and Skills

Employment also builds social networks, probably providing contacts that are equally important in the longer run. For both economic and social reasons, work presented a route toward recovery. For refugees, finding the entrance into the Australian labour market is difficult. Their overseas qualifications are normally not recognised, and, since most of them found employment only after arriving in Australia, they lack prior work experience here. Once refugees work, however, they start to accumulate the relationships and the experience that is needed to move ahead in their profession.

Through the job, a refugee may acquire new skills and experience, as well as improve their language proficiency and build up the kind of work experience that enhances their prospects for career advancement. Other refugees may continue to study or seek new forms of training to upgrade their qualifications and increase their possibilities for advancement.

Conclusion

For refugees, finding work is a key step along the path to independence. A job not only brings financial security, but also a sense of meaning, dignity and belonging. Meaningful work allows refugees to rebuild their lives, support their families, and contribute to their new communities. As they develop further skills and experience, they move closer to a future of hope, instead of a past of trauma.

For employers, what appears to be a seemingly big risk – to hire refugees – is an opportunity to access one of the most vulnerable and resilient workforces in the world. Providing refugees with the chance to work is a critical contribution that companies make in a journey towards realising the potential of millions of people in creating a more inclusive, equitable world.