Being able to participate immediately
An important explanation is the difference in legislation and regulations. People who have fled Ukraine have immediate access to the labor market. Meanwhile, people in the asylum procedure ("asylum seekers") face many obstacles when it comes to accessing the labor market. Although the 24-week requirement has been lifted, other real obstacles remain. For example, the requirement to apply for a work permit and the long waiting times for obtaining a social security number. In fact, work only becomes more accessible once someone has been granted status. But that often takes a long time. During this waiting period, people remain distant from the labor market.
However, the experiences of people from Ukraine show that the opportunity to start working immediately leads to a relatively high labor participation rate. Newcomers who can start working immediately are often still in "action mode." And because they usually have fairly recent work experience (in their country of origin), they are also closer to their competencies and experiences in the field.
Sustainable labor participation
At the same time, we see that immediate participation is not enough for sustainable labor participation. Having to unexpectedly take the step of working in an unfamiliar society is accompanied by a need for (re)orientation. This looks different for everyone, because people have different backgrounds and ambitions. It is therefore important to organize several accessible opportunities for orientation, such as networking conversations, "taster internships," and direct contact with employers. The next steps toward sustainable employment also look different for everyone. For some, getting a job right away is a step toward sustainable employment. For others, further education, a different course of study, or a work-study program is more appropriate. Therefore, build in room for differentiation by connecting to the existing system, with adjustments where necessary.
Lessons learned
In our research into Ukrainian refugees in the labor market, we learned a great deal about what works and what doesn't in the Ukrainian approach. We also learned how these lessons can be applied to improve access to work for all newcomers in the Netherlands. Chapter 5 of our report discusses the five most important lessons and offers concrete tools for professionals and employers. It covers the following topics:
- Investing in language skills
- Focus on job sustainability
- More clarity about (residence) prospects
- Importance of the informal network
- Room for orientation and differentiation
Are you a professional or employer and would you like to know how this is organized in practice? Curious about the other lessons learned from the research?
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Read the specific recommendations in Chapter 5.
