Should you consider hiring refugees?

There are now more than 65 million forcibly displaced people in the world, including 22.5 million refugees. With the vast majority in developing countries, they represent a significant labour pool that isn’t being tapped.

According to the UNHCR, most refugees hold qualifications and practical experience from their home country. They are highly motivated to learn and build up more practical experience when employed.

The refugee agency has developed a 10-point action plan to close the gap between refugees and employment. It is aimed at employers, refugees, governments and society in general. There is still a stigma attached to refugees which the UNHCR is trying to break.

While the majority of refugees may still need to improve their English proficiency, they are a native of their own mother tongue. This could be an advantage to those employers who want to expand the business globally.

Refugees also add to the diversity of a workplace, which has been found to improve innovation, productivity and staff retention.