Asylum seekers and refugees are at a particular employment disadvantage upon arrival. Their difficulties include interrupted employment or education trajectories, psychological trauma resulting from long and perilous journeys, and lengthy status determination processes. However, facilitating their integration into the labour market is key as employment is not only a source of income for refugees, but also a vehicle for their social inclusion. As a result, employers can be key in bridging the gap between the initial reception of refugees and their long-term insertion into the host society. This Policy Dialogue discussed how EU policies can help refugees build skills and assist employers in becoming agents of their long-term integration, while taking into account the new policy and funding environment suggested in the recent Multiannual Financial Framework proposal.

Speakers included: Claire Dhéret, Head of Social Europe and Well-being Programme, European Policy Centre, Jean Lambert, Member of the European Parliament, Birgit Arens, Senior Project Officer, Eurochambres, Antoine Savary, Deputy Head of Legal Migration and Integration Unit, DG Migration and Home Affairs European Commission, Alessandra Venturini, Professor of Political Economy, University of Turin; Deputy Director of the Migration Policy Centre, European University Institute; Academic Co-Director, MEDAM.