ABSTRACT
Research evidence repeatedly demonstrates that some refugees arrive in the UK with high levels of skills, qualifications and premigration work experience and that there is diversity of skills, qualifications and work histories between and within different refugee groups (Charlaff et al., 2004; Kirk, 2004). However, rates of employment are very low among refugees in the UK and even the most highly skilled refugees, who have found employment, are for the most part in jobs that are not commensurate with their skills, qualifications and premigration labour market experiences (see, for example, Dumper, 2002; Charliff et al., 2004; Stewart, 2003; Employability Forum, 2006).
