Are Refugees Good/Bad for the Economy?
- G.I.A. Global Initiatives Alliance
- Jan 22, 2023
- 2 min read
We want to welcome refugees, but can we afford it? Studies show that refugees cost about $1,500 from the government just by resettling. So how do refugees benefit our economy, when some argue that they are a burden? Here are two ways to think of it.
Refugees are good for the economy. They bring a unique set of skills and trade knowledge with other individuals in society. Every country has something unique about them. Whether that be skills in culinary arts, trade techniques, and technical skills that help improve the abilities of things like the local labor force. These skills come in handy and also help boost the economy. For example, Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Service (LIRS) helped with the resettlement of more than 11,000 Afghan refugees during the summer of 2021. When they were building a new office in Northern Virginia, they added new and former Afghan refugees to their team, and with their skill sets they were able to help more refugees. A common misconception is that refugees take away jobs from people. However, that's not true as refugees fill in the gaps in the job market. In countries where there is an aging workforce, refugees actually help balance these age gaps. By participating in creating new jobs and the workforce, they have raised the income for many host countries.
Yes, although refugees make excellent entrepreneurs, it’s only if they’re in an environment that provides them with these job opportunities. However, in reality, this isn’t something many refugees experience. Since refugees are people who have been forced to leave their country, they tend to take refuge in places with insufficient job opportunities. In regions receiving large numbers of refugees, the effect on the wages of unskilled refugees can be very severe. Especially when these refugees arrive in poorer regions, they put a huge strain on infrastructure and public services, leading to a deterioration of the investment industry.
It’s understandable that certain people are concerned that accepting a handful of refugees into their country will cause falling wages and job losses, but none of this is clearly justified. What do you guys think in terms of the benefits refugees provide to the economy?
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