Universal Skills Framework for Migrants, Asylum Seekers and Refugees – A Mapping on the Required Skills While Entering the European Labour Market

Abstract

Migration flows are steadily increasing worldwide. Especially in Europe, the percentage of immigrants from third countries generally ranges from 9% to 17%. As one of the main factors that plays an important role in the overall integration of migrant groups in host countries is their ability to work, there is an emerging need for effective policies and mechanisms to identify and certify skills and qualifications of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees in order to enable them to integrate effectively into the labor market.

Many existing skills frameworks at European and international level emphasize the importance of cognitive skills as well as non-cognitive skills, attitudes and also the crucial role of personality traits that determine the success and employability of the workforce. A framework for universal skills is proposed based on a thorough literature review of the existing international frameworks and of the skills and competencies required to integrate into the labor market. In addition, a field survey with a structured questionnaire was conducted with both employers and migrant groups, to capture the views of both on the selected skills included in the framework and to confirm the extent to which those skills are considered important towards the labor market integration of migrant groups in the host countries.

The results of the research highlighted on one hand the importance of hard skills required to perform a task and on the other hand the soft skills that are of particular importance regardless of the profession. Moreover, a high majority of both groups stated that skills profiling and online assessment tools that matches skills with labour market needs would be valuable in recruiting procedures.