As the global refugee crisis continues to deepen—with the number of displaced people tripling between the early 2010s and 2022 to 36 million—Europe has become a primary destination, hosting roughly one-third of the world’s refugees by 2023. While many newcomers aim to rebuild their lives, they often face significant barriers to employment: language difficulties, delays in obtaining work permits, and a lack of recognition for previous education or work experience. These early obstacles can lead to prolonged joblessness or informal, low-skilled employment, resulting in skill loss, stalled careers, and limited social inclusion.
Targeted approach: Early, individualized support
In response to these pressing issues, an IZA discussion paper by Giovanni Abbiati, Erich Battistin, Paola Monti, and Paolo Pinotti evaluates FORWORK, an innovative program in Italy designed to support asylum seekers during the critical early stages of their stay. This group, typically facing bleak job prospects and limited access to services, was the focus of an intervention offering personalized job mentoring, assistance with job searches, and access to subsidized internships.
The effectiveness of FORWORK was rigorously assessed through a randomized controlled trial conducted across 260 reception centers in Northern Italy, with half implementing the program and the other half continuing with existing services. The results, eighteen months after the program’s inception, demonstrate significant positive impacts on both employment and broader integration outcomes.
Participants in FORWORK were 20 percentage points more likely to be employed than those in the control group, representing an impressive 61 percent increase over the baseline employment rate of 33 percent. Even excluding subsidized internships, the employment boost remained substantial at 10 percentage points, a 30 percent increase over baseline. The quality of employment also saw marked improvement, with participants more likely to secure fixed-term or open-ended contracts, offering enhanced security and legal protections compared to informal work. These gains in job quality translated into a 30 percent increase in labor earnings over 18 months.