“Refugees are professionals who happen to be born somewhere else” – we have been saying this at Refugee Talent Hub for some time now. And it seems that – fortunately – more and more people and organizations see it this way.

Please note: this article was translated using a translator app

Fortunately, because there is quite a bit going on in the world. We recently reached a record low of over 110 million displaced people worldwide (source: UNHCR ). More than 35 million people fall under the heading of 'refugees' because they travel to another country for safety. We can peel back these figures further, but it seems clear to me what it boils down to: many people are looking for a safe place where they can resume their lives. In the Netherlands there are approximately 105,000 refugees, plus about 90,000 Ukrainians.

 At the same time, the number of vacancies remains high: “Unemployment fell slightly in the first quarter of 2023 and the number of jobs increased again. There were 2 thousand fewer unemployed people than in the previous quarter and 63 thousand jobs were created. The number of vacancies remained the same. This means that tension on the labor market remains high. For every 100 unemployed, there were 122 vacancies in the first quarter,” according to Statistics Netherlands . Where organizations may once have had the luxury of not having to think about other target groups or other ways of recruiting, this has now disappeared.

 Add to this the aging population and the call for specifically skilled workers (recently in various newspapers, including the FD and NRC ) and you know that these labor market shortages will not be eliminated overnight. Then you would say that hiring all those status holders in our country is a no-brainer.

However, practice appears to be more difficult

 55% of refugees who come to the Netherlands have still not found sustainable paid work after 7.5 years. Ukrainians are finding work more quickly (in November 2022, around 80% of this group had already found a job ).

 The obstacles are at three levels: personal, organizational and social. The factors mutually reinforce each other and together form a difficult whole to break through: the so-called canvas ceiling. Individual factors include command of the Dutch language, knowledge of the state of affairs in Dutch business and the lack of a professional network. The recruitment process, HR systems that filter out people with a gap of more than two years on the CV, or a non-inclusive workplace are examples of factors on the organizational side. The broader social image and the socio-political climate also play an important role. And laws and regulations hinder access to work - for asylum seekers but also for status holders. All in all, these factors make it difficult for newcomers to find work. And for employers to hire employees with a refugee background.

Crash the ceiling

 If you really want to improve the chances of newcomers, you must tackle these factors simultaneously. And the great thing is: that is also possible! Every day, many organizations in the Netherlands are working to make their systems and workplace more diverse and inclusive. Every day, many newcomers work on their language knowledge and try to expand their network. And every day, many social initiatives and organizations are working hard to change perceptions. We as Refugee Talent Hub, and many others with us. To give people a face and show them: refugees are professionals who happened to be born somewhere else.

European Business Summit on Refugees

 The day before World Refugee Day, I was in Paris at the European Business Summit on Refugees. And what happened there was inspiring: more than 40 large companies, including a number of our partners, agreed to help 250,000 (!) refugees find a job. And that is big, but great things are also happening on a small scale. . The baker on the corner who hires a refugee to help him in his business, for example. It doesn't have to be grand and compelling. My appeal is therefore: get involved. Let's all break through that canvas ceiling. For people, organizations and society.

 -Wilma Roozenboom

 PS Next Monday we will publish a white paper with interesting articles following our Newcomers & Work event. Were you not there and would you still like to receive the white paper? Send us an email and we will ensure that you also receive it in your inbox.