Labour Market Integration

Ensuring migrants and refugees can contribute economically and socially to their host communities is key to the future well-being, prosperity and cohesion of communities. Yet there can be barriers to integration such as an inability to transfer qualifications, differences in cultural values, insufficient language skills, and a mismatch between experience and opportunities. IOM aims to reduce these barriers by analysing employer and migrant needs, creating opportunities for migrants and developing partnerships for increased employer and migrant engagement.

IOM works with both refugees and employers within the UK to promote employment opportunities. IOM provides information and support to refugees resettling to the UK both before and after their arrival, and provide training and guidance to employers interested in hiring refugees. If you would like to contact IOM UK to find out more please email iomukLMI@iom.int

Tapping Potential: Guidelines to Help British Businesses Employ Refugees

In May 2019 IOM UK, in partnership with UNHCR, BITC (Business in the Community) and the UK Government launched new guidelines aimed at helping employers understand how they can diversify and improve their workforce by actively engaging with refugees. The guidelines provide a succinct overview of the facts within the UK, as well as an accessible ‘INSPIRE, HIRE, GROW’ framework to promote business engagement - with existing case studies and examples from across various work sectors.

IOM UK supported the launch with a blog piece on our own professional interaction with refugees. To read the guide launch press release, click here.