A research team studied refugees and employment to understand their challenges and experiences. They conducted interviews and surveys. Their key findings were: 1. Employment is central to refugees' self-sufficiency in the US. 2. Refugees face many types of job search hardships, including learning work norms, status differences requiring lower-level work, and effects of prior trauma. 3. Some hardships stem from unmet expectations and broken promises from employers. Ongoing support managing expectations is important. The researchers suggest continued support through social networks, counseling to build resilience, and programs to address underemployment which can cause dissatisfaction.

1. Refugees and Employment:
Insights from Recent Research
Ben Baran, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Management,
Cleveland State University
April 13, 2018
b.e.baran@csuohio.edu

2. In the fall of 2016, we began our research on
refugees and employment.
• Special issue
• Vocational behavior of refugees: How do refugees seek
employment, overcome work-related challenges, and
navigate their careers
Sorin Valcea, Ph.D.Ben Baran, Ph.D. Tracy Porter, Ph.D. Vickie Coleman Gallagher, Ph.D.
Research Team—Cleveland State University’s
Monte Ahuja College of Business, Department of Management

4. Our data came primarily from interviews and a survey,
allowing for both qualitative and quantitative analysis.
Survival, expectations, and employment: An inquiry of refugees
and immigrants to the United States
Highlights of Findings
1. In the United States, employment is central to refugees'
self-sufficiency.
2. Refugees and immigrants experience many types of job-
search adversity.
3. Some adversity stems from unmet expectations and
psychological contract violations.
4. Refugees get some instrumental support, yet need and
seek social support elsewhere.
5. Underemployment coincides with job dissatisfaction and
disillusionment.

5. 1. In the United States, employment is central to
refugees' self-sufficiency.
Additional Thoughts
• Likely not surprising for you; differs from other countries
• For those with higher skill levels, may present another set
of challenges (longer time needed, potential for
underemployment)
• Refugees’ flexibility is important
Implications for You?
• Relationships with employers are critical
• Different paths for different refugees
• Expectation setting
• Others?

6. 2. Refugees and immigrants experience many types of
job-search adversity.
Additional Thoughts
• Must learn the process (might be different in United States)
• What “work” is and how it is obtained
• Status differences, often need to start with lower-level work
• Residual effects of prior adversity/violence
• Resilience as an outcome, importance of self-efficacy
Implications for You?
• What’s obvious to Americans is not obvious to others
regarding workplace norms
• Importance of coaching and mentoring
• Ways to develop self-efficacy—connect with success stories
• Others?

7. 3. Some adversity stems from unmet expectations and
psychological contract violations.
Additional Thoughts
• Both broken “promises” and pleasant surprises
• Balancing optimism and realism
• Continual expectation management is paramount
Implications for You?
• Tapping into prior obstacles overcome to survive, thrive
• Importance of cultural awareness training AND coaching
• Bigger picture—could there be ways for refugees to gain a
more realistic understanding prior to arrival?
• Others?

8. 4. Refugees get some instrumental support, yet need and
seek social support elsewhere.
Additional Thoughts
• Your role is primarily instrumental support
• Social support is important for their stress management,
psychological well-being
• Family and friends of newly arrived refugees—not always
helpful
Implications for You?
• Identification of other social support resources
• Realize you can’t solve everything for everyone
• Building social networks of refugees could help
• Others?

9. 5. Underemployment coincides with job dissatisfaction
and disillusionment.
Additional Thoughts
• Job dissatisfaction, life dissatisfaction
• Importance of programs that support high-skill refugees
• Underemployment, dissatisfaction, disillusionment—a
negative cycle of experience and thought
Implications for You?
• To the degree possible, identifying different skills and
experiences may mitigate underemployment
• Again, managing expectations is key—there will be ups and
downs
• Long-term orientation toward time could help—be patient,
it will get easier/better, think of the future for your children
• Others?

10. The special issue also included 11 other articles about
refugees and employment issues.
Additional Relevant Highlights
• Value in semi-structured interviews of refugees to help
them make sense of their own development and direction
• It takes a community—or a whole society—to integrate
refugees successfully (decision makers, assistance
organizations, potential employers, etc.)
• Importance of psychological capital (hope, optimism,
resilience, self-efficacy)—benefit of counseling
• Encourage refugees to build social networks
• Value in overcoming adversity

11. Other thoughts and looking ahead …
Sorin Valcea, Ph.D.Ben Baran, Ph.D. Tracy Porter, Ph.D. Vickie Coleman Gallagher, Ph.D.
Research Team—Cleveland State University’s
Monte Ahuja College of Business, Department of Management
1. Thank you! You and your work inspire us.
2. Possibilities for ongoing collaboration—data
analysis, collection, additional research, etc.