At Refugee Talent Hub, we see every day how valuable it is when newcomers can start working quickly. Work offers not only income and stability, but also social connection and opportunities to truly participate in society. Recently, we came across the interesting project "Nieuwkomers in hun Kracht" (Newcomers in their Strength): an example from the healthcare sector that also provides economic substantiation for this impact.
Nieuwkomers in hun Kracht , a collaboration between the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) and Zorg voor het Noorden, proves that investing in healthcare professionals with a refugee or migration background is a smart move. This program, launched in 2022, helps newcomers with a nursing background to quickly start working as BIG-registered nurses. This offers opportunities not only for the participants themselves, but also for the healthcare sector and society as a whole.
An impact analysis by Social Finance NL shows that every euro invested yields nearly €2.50 in societal benefits. These include savings on benefits, lower recruitment costs for hospitals, and increased financial self-reliance among participants. This aligns with broader research, such as the SEO report , which previously demonstrated that broader employment opportunities for asylum seekers lead to significant societal benefits, while incurring hardly any additional societal costs.
Michelle van Toor, Team Leader Inclusive Labor Market at the Goldschmeding Foundation, discusses this project in the NPO radio program Spraakmakers : "'This project is about work that truly makes people happy, work that matches people's talents and ambitions. And that is so important.
It is great to see how this analysis substantiates what we are already noticing in practice: investing in talent pays off.
More about newcomers and work
- FD article: Newcomers must be able to participate from their first day in the Netherlands
- Labor participation of asylum seekers: waiting or working?
- A job gives newcomers back control.
- View the Asylum Seekers & Work file