FIMAS+INTEGRATION – Processes of labour market integration of refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection in Austria

Research Objectives

Upon their recognition, refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection receive full access to the labour market in Austria and should be enabled to become financially independent quickly and sustainably. Labour market integration is vital to this end.

Building on the FIMAS research project and survey, the project FIMAS+INTEGRATION aimed at closing research gaps related to the processes of labour market integration of the growing refugee population. Based on a longitudinal survey, refugees’ integration trajectories and the effects of measures for labour market integration were analysed. The total sample includes a panel component, following initial respondents from 2016/2017, and a refresher sample.

Online, self-completion and face-to-face CAPI interviews were conducted with more than 1,600 recognised refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection between December 2017 and April 2018. The sample includes persons of working age from Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Interviews were implemented in five federal states: Vienna, Styria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, and Tyrol.