Study reveals employment rate of 38% among female refugees
Title: Why Women Refugees in Austria Struggle More in the Labor Market
Employment rates for women refugees who arrived in Austria in 2015 are significantly lower than their male counterparts, according to a report by the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF). In 2023, 38% of women were employed for at least 90 days compared to 78% of men.
This gender disparity persists even among refugees from Afghanistan, Syria, and Somalia. After eight years, 69% of Afghan women and men who arrived in 2015 are employed, while for Syrians and Somalis, the figure is 63%. EU citizens and regularly migrated persons from third countries, however, have a more straightforward path to employment compared to women refugees.
The labor market integration success is contingent on where refugees reside. Refugees are not immediately accessible to the labor market in the year following their arrival, partly due to the duration of asylum procedures. It takes refugees seven to twelve years to reach two-thirds of the average income.
In 2023, 59% of asylum seekers who arrived in Austria in 2015 remained in the country, while 70% of those who applied for asylum in 2022 left the following year, primarily those with a slim chance for a positive asylum decision.
Geographical location significantly impacts the labor market integration of refugees. Those who initially settled and stayed in the west or center of Austria had an employment rate over 80% in 2023. In contrast, those who relocated to the east, particularly Vienna, had an employment rate of over 59 to 62%.
Integration Minister Claudia Plakolm (ÖVP) emphasized, "Those who live here must become part of it." She believes work serves as a means for refugees to practice their German skills and engage with people.
Insights into Women's Labor Market Integration Challenges
- Language Skills: Women might face additional barriers if they have limited access to language classes or if their language proficiency is not recognized.
- Cultural Barriers: Women migrants may encounter cultural obstacles or societal expectations hindering their integration into the workforce.
- Family Responsibilities: Women often bear more family responsibilities, impacting their availability for work and career advancement.
- Discrimination: Women refugees may face gender-based discrimination in the labor market, further complicating their integration into the workforce.
Addressing these challenges necessitates targeted policies that promote equal opportunities in employment, such as providing accessible childcare and combating discrimination.
Other factors impeding women refugees' employment success include financial constraints in business ventures and inadequate recognition of qualifications from their country of origin. Despite progress, the integration of women refugees into the Austrian labor market remains challenging due to these persistent issues.
