Due to problems with recognition of their qualifications, skills and work experience, many refugees and migrants end up unemployed or underemployed. Many highly- skilled refugees and migrants are working in low-skilled, temporary and badly paid jobs. A loss not only for the affected persons, but also the host societies and their economies.

Problems relating to the assessment of skills and recognition of qualifications apply to both refugees and migrants, although refugees are confronted with even more obstacles. Migrants can prepare for the recognition process in the country they choose to live and work. Refugees often leave in a hurry without knowledge of their final destination. They are not always able to bring all their diplomas and certificates with them and/or cannot access the institutions in their host countries that issued their documents. Refugees are more often confronted with these problems because, compared to other immigrants, a larger proportion tend to have higher educational and professional backgrounds.

Experience in countries such as Finland, the Netherlands, and the UK shows that when migrants’ and refugees’ qualifications are recognised and/or if they have the opportunity to update their skills and knowledge by undertaking additional training or education, they are more likely to find suitable and long-term employment - matching their skills and qualifications.