Abstract
In Western countries, entry into the labour market is difficult for humanitarian migrants, especially women. The aim of our study was to examine the association of health, native Finnish friends and having under school-age children with employment among humanitarian migrants.The data were drawn from the Finnish Migrant Health and Wellbeing Study. The sample comprised 479 migrants of Kurdish and Somali origin (men n=248; women n=231). We analysed the associations of self-rated health, having Finnish friends and under school age children with employment using multinomial regression modelling.After adjustment for several well-established determinants of employment, having Finnish friends and good health were robustly associated with employment among women. In the age-adjusted model, having 3–6 years old children was related to lower employment among women, but after all adjustments, the association became nonsignificant. All these associations were nonsignificant among male migrants.To conclude, good health and bridging social relations with natives play a role in strengtheningemployment opportunities among female humanitarian migrants.
Highlights
The number of migrants entering Europe has increased dramatically in recent years
Living outside the Helsinki metropolitan area was associated with higher employment levels among men, as was having a university degree
As among men, having a university degree was associated with higher levels of employment among women
Summary
The number of migrants entering Europe has increased dramatically in recent years. The integration of newly arrived migrants into the host country is an extremely important policy goal throughout Europe. Previous research on the underlying factors related to poorer labour market integration among migrants is, scarce. More research is needed on how to break the barriers to employment and to promote successful transition to work life in order to improve the socioeconomic opportunities of migrants, facilitate their social integration, and improve their well-being. This study examines the factors associated with higher employment among humanitarian migrants of Kurdish and Somali origin, who have a low level of employment in Finland. Most Somali and Kurdish migrants have moved to Finland as refugees or asylum seekers. (Castaneda et al 2018; Rask et al 2015.) In this study, we use the term humanitarian migrant to refer to Kurdish and Somali migrants who have moved to Finland as refugees, asylum seekers or for family reunification About a third of the Kurdish and Somali women of our sample had a residence permit based on family reunification. (Castaneda et al 2018; Rask et al 2015.) In this study, we use the term humanitarian migrant to refer to Kurdish and Somali migrants who have moved to Finland as refugees, asylum seekers or for family reunification
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