Majority of young Syrian refugees are in work or studying, research shows

The majority of young Syrian refugees in the UK are either in work or studying, new research shows, quashing any claims that many are reluctant to work, and take advantage of social welfare benefits.

A study carried out among the 7,300 Syrian refugees who have resettled in the UK since 2015 reveals that around two-thirds of those aged 18 to 32 are either in employment or engaged in study at university or college.

The research, conducted by academics from the University of Glasgow, shows that more than one in four (27 per cent) had jobs and over a third (36 per cent) were students.

One in five (19 per cent) meanwhile said they were unemployed and searching for a job, with 55 per cent saying that their main barrier to labour-market access was language.

Of the 484 young refugees surveyed, more than a third had been in employment before leaving Syria, while 41 per cent had been students and were unable to complete their studies due to the conflict.

One young Syrian who has started work in Britain is Alaa, 22, who arrived through the Syrian resettlement programme with his parents, his sister and her husband in April last year.

A year on, he has a job as a machine worker at a factory in Hereford. He lives with his parents, but is looking at getting his own home as he is getting married next year.

“I wanted to learn English. But after waiting for three months, I decided that I had to do something. I have very high ambitions. There is a lot that I want to do with my life. I want to study, I want to work. So, that is why I started working,” he said.

“I’ve been here a year and I’ve already worked seven months. I have very high aspirations! I am working and I am paying my taxes like others.

“I am very proud of what I’ve achieved so far. We have to find ways to rebuild our lives here. We need to integrate, we need to meet people and interact with them, this is what we need to do. This is how we will develop.”

Academics said the findings “debunked” the idea that many Syrian refugees are reluctant to work, and take advantage of social welfare benefits in Britain.

Dr Dimitris Skleparis, one of the researchers who carried out the study, said: “Our research debunks the myth that many Syrians are reluctant to participate in the labour market and are taking advantage of social welfare provisions.

“In fact, despite the language barrier, an often interrupted education and experiences of trauma, less than one in five is unemployed and looking for work, while most of the rest are either students, in work or looking after children.

“Young Syrian refugees in the UK are highly educated and skilled, with high aspirations, who want to settle in the UK and are very grateful for the support and welcome they have received.”

In response to the findings, Jeremy Bernhaut, specialist resettlement manager at Refugee Action, told The Independent refugees were determined to start contributing to their new communities through work, volunteering and socialising with their neighbours.

“Their skills and experiences have enormous potential to enrich our culture and boost our economy, so it is wonderful to see so many people arriving through the Syrian resettlement programme already in work or continuing their studies,” he said.

“But as this study suggests, not being able to speak English is a huge barrier to integration. Our research shows refugees can wait up to three years to start learning English due to long waiting lists and a lack of local provision.

“This has to change. We’re calling on the government to invest in English so that all refugees in Britain can share our language and achieve their aspirations.”

A report from the UNHCR in November was largely positive about the UK’s resettlement scheme, but it highlights a number of areas for improvement, including in English language provision, and further support for housing and finding work.

It found that existing work promotion schemes were limited, highlighting the need for further support to refugees on the road to employment. Other proposals included strengthening the provision of appropriate housing by central government and making family reunification planning more integral.

Home secretary Amber Rudd announced in February that 10,538 Syrians had so far been granted refuge under the Vulnerable Person Resettlement Scheme, more than half of the UK’s target of bringing in 20,000 by 2020.

Despite the apparently high numbers, the UK still lags behind other European countries when it comes to the resettlement of Syrian refugees.