What are the benefits of refugee labour mobility?

Labour mobility schemes can benefit refugees, employers, refugee-hosting countries, destination countries and countries of origin. Those who move through labour mobility pathways to countries where they have the legal right to work show increased resilience, wellbeing and financial security. Labour pathways can provide refugees and their families with access to a durable solution to their displacement, while also discouraging high-risk journeys. 

UNHCR notes that in addition to building the skills of refugees, labour mobility can “strengthen prospects for sustainable post-conflict reconstruction in the refugee’s country of origin,” as refugees gain access to career development opportunities that enhance their skills and enable them to avoid prolonged unemployment. 

Labour mobility also benefits refugees’ wider family and community networks in countries of asylum and countries of origin through remittance transfers enabled by enhanced economic power. Such schemes can also benefit those who stay behind by easing pressure within countries that are hosting large numbers of displaced people.

For receiving employers and countries, refugee labour mobility schemes can help fill skills and labour shortages and ease demographic pressures. Refugee labour mobility schemes also build public support for refugees by demonstrating the positive contribution they bring to receiving societies.