Monday Chat | Sep 15, 2025
📌 Question: "Do Refugees Take Away Jobs?" The economic truth about refugees that employers don't want you to know.
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"Do Refugees Take Away Jobs?" The Data and the Ground Truth
Picture us sitting over coffee, having that conversation everyone's thinking but afraid to have.
Let's tackle the elephant in the room, shall we?
"Do refugees take away jobs from locals?"
I hear this question in hushed tones at community meetings. I see it in comment sections. I watch it shape policy debates. And as someone who works directly with both refugees seeking work and employers who hire them, I'm going to give you the data and the ground truth.
Because you deserve better than soundbites when you're trying to figure out how to actually help.
THE DATA SPEAKS CLEARLY
Studies from 20+ countries over two decades show the same pattern:
Refugees create more jobs than they take. Here's why:
They start businesses at twice the rate of general population (because entrepreneurship is often their only path to work)
They fill critical labor shortages in healthcare, agriculture, and skilled trades
They increase consumer demand (refugees buy groceries, pay rent, need services)
They revitalize declining communities (ask any small town mayor about this one)
The numbers: For every 100 refugees resettled, 50-60 new jobs are created within 5 years. That's not taking jobs—that's making them.
THE GROUND TRUTH IS MORE COMPLEX
Here's what I see working with refugees and employers daily:
What actually happens when refugees enter the job market:
✅ They often take jobs others won't: Night shifts, physically demanding work, positions requiring multiple languages
✅ They fill skill gaps: We have a shortage of nurses, electricians, and tech workers—refugees often bring these exact skills
✅ They work harder than they have to: When you've waited years for the chance to work, you don't show up halfway
But there's friction:
❌ Credential recognition takes time: A Syrian doctor might drive Uber while getting Canadian certification
❌ Language barriers slow initial placement: Even skilled workers need time to adapt
❌ Some employers hire refugees to pay less: This hurts everyone and needs to stop
HERE'S HOW YOU CAN ACTUALLY HELP
Instead of debating whether refugees deserve jobs, let's create more jobs for everyone.
THIS WEEK: PICK ONE ACTION
🏢 IF YOU'RE AN EMPLOYER:
Post job openings with refugee resettlement agencies
Offer paid internships for credential recognition
Partner with language schools for workplace English training
💼 IF YOU'RE A PROFESSIONAL:
Mentor someone navigating credential recognition in your field
Volunteer to review resumes and conduct mock interviews
Connect refugees with industry networking events
🏘️ IF YOU'RE A COMMUNITY MEMBER:
Shop at refugee-owned businesses (ask your local resettlement agency for a list)
Support job training programs at community colleges
Advocate for faster credential recognition processes
📢 IF YOU'RE AN ADVOCATE:
Push for policies that help everyone access job training
Support minimum wage increases (prevents exploitation)
Advocate for affordable childcare (removes barriers to employment)
THE REAL CONVERSATION WE SHOULD BE HAVING
The question isn't "Do refugees take jobs?"
The question is "Why don't we have enough good jobs for everyone?"
When we fight over scraps, nobody wins. When we create abundance, everyone thrives.
The economy isn't a pie where one person's slice makes everyone else's smaller. It's more like a sourdough starter—the more you feed it, the more it grows.
WHAT I'VE LEARNED FROM 15 YEARS OF THIS WORK
Every time a community embraces refugees strategically:
Local unemployment rates drop
New businesses open
Property values rise
Cultural vibrancy increases
Every time a community resists or creates barriers:
Skills shortages persist
Small businesses struggle to find workers
Brain drain continues
Communities stagnate
It's not bleeding-heart idealism. It's economic reality.
YOUR MONDAY CHALLENGE
This week, have one real conversation with someone who hires refugees. Ask them:
What skills are they looking for?
What barriers do they face?
How can the community better support integration?
Then have one real conversation with a refugee about their work experience. Listen to their story. Understand their goals.
Stop debating in the abstract. Start building in the concrete.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Refugees don't take jobs. Poor economic policy, lack of investment in training, and resistance to change take jobs.
Refugees with opportunity create jobs. They always have.
The question isn't whether to help them find work. The question is how fast we can help them contribute their talents to building the stronger communities we all want.
📣 Ready to be part of the solution?
What's one way you can support job creation in your community this week? Reply and let me know—I love hearing about practical action.
Share this with someone you know.
The Voice Behind the Writing
I focus on creating pathways that make it easier for people to move forward in a new setting. My goal is to raise a community of newcomers who are strong, informed, and prepared for their next steps.
I begin by entering their lives, listening, and building trust. I walk with them through trauma, helping them heal and find strength again. As stability grows, I guide them toward safe transition options and prepare them for what lies ahead.
Community integration is not the starting point. It is the final step of a long and difficult journey. Along the way, I make information clear and open so newcomers know their choices, and so the public knows how to act with them.