Refugees accepted for settlement in this country are out of work or under-employed because of barriers preventing them finding jobs, the Government was warned yesterday.
A third of refugees are unemployed - six times the national average - including some who are well qualified and could fill a growing shortage of skilled workers.
The Employability Forum said inadequate English language teaching was one of the problems because four out of five refugees arrived with little or no English.
A third of refugees had university-equivalent education but found it difficult to get work, said the forum's director, Patrick Wintour.
"We must find ways of responding more systematically to refugees when they are given permission to work so their skills are not wasted.
"We need a more dynamic partnership between the Government and the voluntary sector so refugee jobseekers do not waste time going round in circles and end up unemployed or under-employed."
One in three refugees who found work said they were not using their full skills or training.
The forum was holding a conference in London yesterday.
Wednesday November 12, 2003
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