Asylum seekers can apply for permission to work after they have been waiting for a decision for over a year, although they can only apply for jobs on the shortage occupation list.
This limits employment to mainly highly-skilled or professional occupations such as engineers, architects, software developers, science and math teachers, social workers, doctors and nurses. Since February 2022, care workers and home carers have been added to the list.
People who have been granted asylum in the UK have a disproportionately low employment rate of 51 per cent, compared with economic migrants who have an employment rate of 88 per cent [1].
Although it gets a smaller, a gap remains present even after more than 25 years of residence in the country.
For the first of two meetings on barriers to work, the London Assembly Economy Committee will meet tomorrow to discuss barriers to work for asylum seekers and refugees. The guests are:
Panel 1 – 10am to 11.30am
- Matthew Powell, CEO, Breaking Barriers
- Dr Tara Povey, Policy and Research Manager, Refugee Action
- Siân Summers-Rees, Chief Officer, City of Sanctuary
- Niloha Rangel, City of Sanctuary Ambassador and refugee doctor
Panel 2 – 11.30am to 12.30pm
- Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard, Deputy Mayor for Social Justice and Communities
- Jules Pipe, Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration and Skills
The meeting will take place on Wednesday, 18 January from 10am, in the Chamber at City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, E16 1ZE.
Media and members of the public are invited to attend.
The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.
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Notes to editors
- Compas, Refugees and the UK Labour Market, 2019
- Full agenda papers.
- Hina Bokhari AM, Chair of the Economy Committee, is available for interview.
- Find out more about the work of the Economy Committee.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For more information, please contact Emma Bowden in the Assembly Media Office on 07849 303897. For out of hours media enquiries please call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the Assembly duty press officer.