IOM, UNHCR launch ‘train-to-hire’ scheme to boost refugee employment
Data shows that between 2019 and 2023, around 183,000 skilled refugees from eight nationalities were granted job visas in wealthier countries.
In a move to strengthen refugees' access to international labour markets, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have launched a pioneering "train-to-hire" programme for displaced individuals in the Asia-Pacific region.
The initiative that aims to build the skills of candidates and match them with suitable international employment opportunities, helping fill labour market gaps and promoting refugee self-reliance, provides a case study that can be replicated in Kenya as the country kicks off plans to integrate refugees within their host communities under the Shirika plan.
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IOM Director General Amy Pope noted that migrants and refugees bring skills, experience, and determination.
"This initiative helps connect those qualities with real opportunities in the labour market, benefiting both the individuals and the communities that welcome them. When we invest in the potential of people on the move, we are opening doors to a future where skills matter more than status, and where people can thrive with dignity and purpose," he said.
On his part, the UNHCR's Filippo Grandi said the new initiative is a lifeline, unlocking legal pathways to employment and supporting both refugees and host economies in the process.
"It is a great example of how wealthier nations can step up and turn solidarity into action. As forced displacement reaches record levels, we urgently need practical, scalable solutions for refugees to find safety and opportunities," he noted.
Funded by the Government of Australia for an initial 22-month period, the initiative builds on Australia's pledge at the 2023 Global Refugee Forum.
The country is taking a leading role in strengthening States' facilitation of employment pathways for refugees.
"The initiative also supports greater collaboration between UN agencies in advancing shared objectives. Expanding inclusive and safe migration is a tangible investment in global stability," IOM said in a statement.
Despite a growing number of skilled refugees keen to find international employment and well-documented labour shortages in many countries, only a fraction of those have successfully secured jobs abroad.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and UNHCR data show that between 2019 and 2023, around 183,000 skilled refugees from eight nationalities were granted job visas in wealthier countries.
While significant, this figure highlights the vast untapped potential if current barriers to refugee labour mobility are addressed.
"By facilitating orderly migration, this initiative offers better outcomes for refugees, host communities and States alike, leveraging refugees' skills and employment pathways to create more opportunities for safe, regular migration. Often referred to as 'refugee labour mobility' or 'complementary labour pathways', this approach helps reduce reliance on irregular and dangerous migration routes," IOM added.
The initiative will provide targeted training to enhance the existing skills of a select group of refugees, addressing common barriers that hinder employers from hiring displaced individuals.
The training will be tailored to sectors with medium- to long-term labour shortages, helping refugee talent align with employment needs in Australia and beyond.
The model is part of a broader, deepening collaboration between UNHCR and IOM, a critical partnership at this time of record displacement.
Among the more than 42 million refugees globally, many possess valuable skills that, when given the opportunity, could unlock safer and more dignified futures.
In Kenya, the process of refugees' integration has begun with key law amendments to allow refugees' identification documents to be used to register for SIM cards and bank accounts that are critical in accessing the local labour market.
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