Hikmet Jamil1, Samer S Kanno1, Rami Abo-Shasha2, Mazen M AlSaqa1, Monty Fakhouri3, Bengt B Arnetz1. 1. Division of Occupational & Environmental Health, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit MI, USA. 2. Student at Wayne State University. 3. Division of Occupational & Environmental Health, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit MI, USA ; Arab American and Chaldean Council (ACC) Division of Public Health, Southfield, MI, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Immigrants in general and refugees in specific are at risk for unemployment with detrimental effects on health and social well-being. Prior work has identified a series of barriers preventing employment among immigrants and refugees. However, these studies either fail to have a comparison group, or it is improper. The objective of this study is to compare unemployment determinants among culturally comparable Iraqi immigrants and refugees. METHOD: A convenience sample of Iraqis residing in Michigan, who came to US after 2003, were surveyed covering socio-demographic aspects, prior and current job history, perceived barriers and facilitators to get a job, discrimination, and health. RESULTS: results show that refugees were twice as likely to be unemployed. Lack of language skills was a bigger barrier among refugees. The results indicate that immigrants are more successful than refugees in securing a job, even after taking their pre-migration and professional experiences into consideration. CONCLUSION: This comparative study showed that refugees were more likely to have a difficult time in successfully finding a job. More attention is needed to help minimize the barriers that refugees face in the employment process.
BACKGROUND: Immigrants in general and refugees in specific are at risk for unemployment with detrimental effects on health and social well-being. Prior work has identified a series of barriers preventing employment among immigrants and refugees. However, these studies either fail to have a comparison group, or it is improper. The objective of this study is to compare unemployment determinants among culturally comparable Iraqi immigrants and refugees. METHOD: A convenience sample of Iraqis residing in Michigan, who came to US after 2003, were surveyed covering socio-demographic aspects, prior and current job history, perceived barriers and facilitators to get a job, discrimination, and health. RESULTS: results show that refugees were twice as likely to be unemployed. Lack of language skills was a bigger barrier among refugees. The results indicate that immigrants are more successful than refugees in securing a job, even after taking their pre-migration and professional experiences into consideration. CONCLUSION: This comparative study showed that refugees were more likely to have a difficult time in successfully finding a job. More attention is needed to help minimize the barriers that refugees face in the employment process.
Authors: B B Arnetz; J Wasserman; B Petrini; S O Brenner; L Levi; P Eneroth; H Salovaara; R Hjelm; L Salovaara; T Theorell Journal: Psychosom Med Date: 1987 Jan-Feb Impact factor: 4.312