The Other Side of the Asylum and Resettlement Coin: Investing in Refugees’ Success along the Migration Continuum

June 2016 Meeting

As displacement—and the conflict, violence, and intolerance driving it—has proliferated globally, many of those forced from their homes have sought refuge in the asylum systems of industrialized countries. As the sense of immediate crisis passes—and perhaps gives way to an awareness of a “new normal” in terms of flows—policymakers are coming to grips with the next challenge: ensuring the social and economic inclusion of those who have arrived. The sixteenth plenary meeting of the Transatlantic Council on Migration examined the integration challenges governments can expect over the next five years and set out where greater policy investments are needed in order to fully capitalize on the potential of the newest arrivals. The meeting focused on identifying what particular difficulties new refugee arrivals are likely to face in entering the labor markets, social service structures, and established communities in their new homes, and what good practices exist to address these challenges. Read the Council Statement, which explores the integration questions that the recent migration crisis has brought to the fore and how these questions, in turn, affect broader governance structures for managing migration.

The individual papers presented at the meeting, which explore innovative policy solutions, are available below:

Integrating Refugees into Host Country Labor Markets: Challenges and Policy Options
Countries receiving large numbers of asylum seekers are facing huge challenges in meeting newcomers' immediate needs, yet longer-term integration issues could prolong the crisis if not addressed. This report assesses the barriers refugees and asylum seekers face getting into jobs, and particularly at their skill level. The report identifies policies that support labor market integration, including early skills assessment and training. 

Moving Beyond Crisis: Germany’s New Approaches to Integrating Refugees into the Labor Market
A key question confronting German policymakers has been how to successfully integrate asylum seekers into the labor market after record numbers arrived in 2015. This report examines the challenges newcomers face in getting jobs at their skill level as well as accessing language and training courses. The report outlines the many integration initiatives created in Germany, and offers recommendations for greater effectiveness.

Digital Humanitarianism: How Tech Entrepreneurs Are Supporting Refugee Integration
Tech communities in Europe and North America have been spurred into action by the refugee crisis, developing apps and other tools that can be used along the journey, immediately upon arrival, and for longer-term integration into the host society. This report maps several types of emerging tools and considers how policymakers responsible for refugee integration might play a more active role in supporting the most promising.

Transatlantic Council Statement: Rebuilding after Crisis: Embedding Refugee Integration in Migration Management Systems
This Council Statement explores the integration questions that the recent refugee and migration crisis in Europe has brought to the fore and their effect on broader governance structures for managing migration. As the immediate pressures have abated, policymakers have refocused their energies on preventing the next crisis and ensuring that newcomers—and the communities in which they settle—have the tools to thrive.

The Economic Integration of Refugees in Canada: A Mixed Record?
Refugees in Canada have experienced mixed success when it comes to economic outcomes. While they struggle to enter the labor market, over time they catch up to other immigrants and the Canadian born. This report examines the web of programs that facilitate refugee integration, as well as differences in outcomes—including for those who are privately sponsored or resettled by the government.

How Are Refugees Faring? Integration at U.S. and State Levels
Approximately 3 million refugees have been admitted to the United States since 1980, with most entering employment quickly and making substantial gains toward integration over time. Yet national averages often mask considerable variation. This report uses a unique methodology to explore how different refugee groups fare across U.S. states and what role state policies may or may not play in shaping these outcomes.

Weathering Crisis, Forging Ahead: Swedish Asylum and Integration Policy
As the number of asylum seekers arriving in Sweden each month climbed to the tens of thousands in late 2015, the Swedish asylum system reached a breaking point. Arrivals have since slowed, but the challenge is far from over. This report examines Swedish policymakers’ efforts to manage future flows and support integration of newcomers through changes to housing, employment, education, and health services.