Falling in the unemployment gap

After receiving asylum and being recognised in a host country, refugees are expected to integrate and participate in society. One of the most vital elements of their overall ‘integration’ is finding employment and becoming financially self-sufficient in their new country. Various factors impact the level of access recognised refugees have to local labour markets, from language skills, to qualifications, experience, discrimination, networks and numerous others. Within the population of recognised refugees, the sub group of high skilled women can face particular challenges when trying to get a foothold in the local Dutch labour market. To guide this process, local municipalities in the Netherlands have policies in place, although little was known about how successful these policies are perceived to be according to their most important target group. This research aims to explore how these high skilled refugee women experience the process of entering the job market in the Hague and how they reflect on the policy governing this process. This has been done by conducting a policy analysis as well as eight in depth semi-structured interviews with said target group. Outcomes show that there is a lot to be improved as the respondents expressed feelings of frustration and disappointment throughout the process, and felt that existing policy designs inadequately met their individual needs as high skilled, qualified individuals. Based on these findings I have made a number of policy recommendations as well as recommendations for further research.