Working Lives Research Institute
Professor Steve Jefferys, Monika Beutel, Anna Paraskevopoulou and Marc Craw
Haringey Council
Employment, Skills and Training Needs of Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Recent Migrants in Haringey
Throughout
its history the population of London has changed due to migration into
and out of the city. The list of countries of origin of people who have
come to work and live here covers the whole world. Migrants have
fuelled the economic, social and cultural dynamism of London. Down the
years various factors have moved different migrant groups, but in
recent times the scale of international movement has evolved ever more
rapidly for reasons such as: the expansion of the European Union,
changes in immigration visas, economic globalisation demanding
knowledge and labour, conflict intensification and climate change
forcing flight and displacement. These drivers are supported by the
proliferation of more accessible transport and intermediaries such as
agencies. Within the UK, due to its diverse population and economic
vitality, London has always received the great majority of
international migrants.
The growth in EU accession migrants and in numbers of refugees and
asylum seekers have generated interest across public authorities in
developing a greater understanding of the demographic, social and
economic impacts at a local level. Some areas of London have
experienced greater population change for reasons such as the mix and
availability of housing, links to established family members and/or
community networks from similar backgrounds, and access to work and
training provisions. The opportunities and barriers faced by recent
migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in accessing skills and training
provision and entering the labour market have come under investigation.
However there is still a lack of research information on these
dynamics. Due to their language and cultural differences, experiences
of discrimination, and reliance on community networks, these groups may
be relatively marginalized in society, more active in the informal
economy and/or ‘precarious’ work relations (i.e. temporary, casual or
irregular work) and more likely to be outside the view of statutory
regulation and services.
A growing body of research has pointed to relatively high levels of
disadvantage faced by these groups and has highlighted a number of
potential barriers to their access to training and skills services and
participation in the labour market. These include a lack of relevant
skills and qualifications, language and cultural communication
difficulties, limited understanding of the UK labour market and its
practices, dependence on precarious unskilled and low paid work,
reliance on agencies and other intermediaries, shortage of guidance and
job brokerage facilities, and an inability to build on qualifications
from home countries or to provide references. Ethnicity and immigration
status can also be important barriers as they may reinforce prejudice
and lead to discriminatory practices. The London Borough of Haringey
commissioned the Working Lives Research Institute (WLRI) in March 2007
to carry out research to explore the relationships of refugees, recent
migrants and asylum seekers living and/or working in Haringey to skills
gaps, training needs and labour market opportunities.
· Explore the nature and impact of barriers to labour market
participation that are experienced by the three discrete groups of
refugees, asylum seekers and recent migrants who reside and/or work in
Haringey.
· Undertake an analysis of the employment, training and enterprise
needs of refugees, asylum seekers and recent migrants, identifying both
the distinct and the common needs of these three groups.
· Examine the attitudes and policies of local employers and education and training providers to the three groups.
· Compare the skill base of these three groups against the requirements of the local economy.
· Improve knowledge concerning the numbers making up these different groups.
Haringey Council’s purpose in commissioning the research was to assist
in the design of programmes that address the training, employment and
enterprise development needs of these groups, to ensure that the local
economy achieves the maximum benefit from the skills and experience of
these groups and to provide a better understanding of the impact of
these groups. The research recommendations are focused largely on the
role that the local authority can play. However it is important to
recognise Haringey’s position within the wider economic and political
contexts of London, the UK and the global economy. The capacity of the
Council to directly change or influence many of the processes at work
is limited and consequently some of the findings and recommendations of
this research will need to be discussed with other key government
bodies, such as the Mayor’s Office for London, Job Centre Plus and
Learning Skills Council, as well as with business representatives and
the trade unions.
