Refugees can be perceived as being an economic drain on their host communities. But what is often overlooked is that entire societies have been uprooted – huge numbers of highly motivated, energised and resilient people with a vast array of skills and experience.
This means that people who arrive as refugees are rarely, if ever, a burden. In fact, there’s evidence to show that they make a positive contribution to society and the economy. The benefits they bring far outweigh what it costs to support them initially.
However, they invariably face all sorts of barriers to finding work. These include difficulties with the language, unrecognised qualifications, delays in receiving documentation and often discrimination.