Enhancing Employment Prospects for Refugees: The Impact of Dutch and Home Country Identities

Abstract

In this paper, we examine the role of Dutch identity and home country identity in the chances of being employed for refugees in the Netherlands. Numerous refugees in the Netherlands are currently facing challenges with securing their employment. This research sheds a new light on possible factors that influence employment among refuees, since the specific relation between host country identity and employment and the enhancing effect of home country identity has not yet been thoroughly researched. The following research questions have been asked: ‘To what extent does the strength of the Dutch identity of refugees influence the chances of being employed in the Netherlands?’ and ‘To what extent does the strength of home-country identity reinforce the effect of Dutch identity on the chances of being employed in the Netherlands?’. Using several theories originating from the sociological and psychological field, we studied whether Dutch identity could increase the chances of being employed by enhancing motivation, resilience, social inclusion, and access to opportunities. Furthermore, we investigated whether home country identity increases the effect of Dutch identity on chances of being employed, by enhancing the well-being and employment prospects of a refugee. To do so, the SIM 2020 (Survey Integration Minorities) is used, which aims to present the current state of minority group integration in the Netherlands, including responses from various minority groups and native groups (N=224). After performing binary logistic regression analysis, we could conclude that a stronger Dutch identity enlarges the chances of being employed for refugees in the Netherlands and that home country identity increases this effect. Furthermore, belonging to an older agegroup decreases the effects of Dutch identity and home country identity. Conclusively, stimulating both attaining Dutch identity while maintaining one’s home country identity is important for increasing refugees’ chances on being empolyed