If you work in HR or are a hiring manager, you've probably
been affected by the hiring drought. Where there was once several candidates to
fill each opening, there are now numerous positions that are forced to go
unfilled due to a lack of candidates. However, employers have another often
untapped resource for new employees: refugees.
What many people may not be aware of is how many refugees
are in Utah. The Utah Refugee Service Office estimates that there are some
25,000 refugees that have resettled in Utah, with most of them settling in the
great Salt Lake City area. So what exactly is a refugee? According to The UN
Refugee Agency, a refugee is someone that was forced to leave their country due
to a "well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion,
nationality, membership of a particular social group or political
opinion." Refugees often live in camps before coming to the United States,
and the process generally takes years. Many refugees are bringing children with
them, or have been forced to leave their families behind.
So why should employers hire refugees? Refugees have come to
the United States to build a new life for themselves, and to live the American
dream. The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants states it perfectly:
"Refugees who come to the United States want to regain self-sufficiency
and economic stability for their families. Strengthened by their experiences,
they make capable, resilient, and loyal employees." Refugees are also
masters at networking. If you hire one, there’s a good chance that they’ll tell
friends and family about you, and provide a fairly consistent source of new
applicants to your business.
Most importantly, refugees bring diversity. They bring new
ideas and new perspectives. Many refugees were educated in their country, and
bring that knowledge with them. Many have faced hardships in their lives that
the average American can’t even fathom. Through these challenges, refugees have
learned the value of hard work, patience, and perseverance. These are qualities
any employer would be excited to have in their employees.
So where can employers find refugees? There are three
organizations in Utah that work with incoming refugees:
Asian Association of Utah: http://www.aau-slc.org/
Catholic Community Services of Utah: http://www.ccsutah.org/
International Rescue Committee: http://www.rescue.org/
You can also learn more about refugees by visiting
The UN Refugee Agency: http://www.unhcr.org
U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants:
http://www.refugees.org/
USA for UNHCR: http://www.unrefugees.org
Utah Refugee Services Office: http://jobs.utah.gov/refugee
