Beyond Employment: Job Quality, Precarity, and the Limits of Self-Sufficiency for Resettled Refugees in the U.S.

• In Event: International Migration Section Refereed Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): 28. Beyond Employment

Abstract

Refugees in the United States face significant obstacles in securing stable, non-precarious employment, yet the mechanisms underlying these barriers remain underexplored. This study employs a mixed methods design — combining analysis from the Annual Survey of Refugees 2021 and 2022 waves, with in-depth qualitative interviews with 20 refugees — to examine how structural, logistical, and personal challenges shape labor market outcomes. Integrating quantitative and qualitative evidence allows us to move beyond identifying which barriers matter to understanding how and why they operate, offering a more granular account of refugee employment trajectories.
Quantitative findings reveal that refugees facing challenges with English language proficiency, credential recognition, job search, and transportation are more likely to find work, but predominantly in precarious, low-wage positions. By contrast, barriers rooted in limited social networks, caregiving responsibilities, and health or disability are associated with unemployment, with women disproportionately affected. Qualitative interviews deepen these findings by illuminating the contextual dynamics behind these patterns. Participants described job training programs as oriented toward rapid placement in low-quality jobs rather than sustainable careers, while ESL classes frequently conflicted with demanding and irregular work schedules. Precarious employment itself was found to compound disadvantage, as physically taxing conditions contributed to health deterioration and subsequent job loss. Pathways to stable employment existed but were narrow, requiring either recertification in occupations with local labor demand or longer-term investment in education supported by financial aid and public assistance — a strategy not equally accessible to all refugees. Even where credentials were obtained, uneven employer responsiveness pointed to the additional role of occupational demand, and/or potential hiring networks and discrimination.

Authors

• Mehr Mumtaz, The Ohio State University

• Sinem Esengen, The Ohio State University