Talent displaced: The economic lives of Syrian refugees in Europe

Conflict and civil unrest in Syria has caused more than 5 million refugees to flee their homes. While a relatively small proportion of these individuals have settled in Europe, there is a high level of public awareness and concern around the support being offered to these refugees. To contribute to this discussion, Deloitte and the Refugee Studies Centre (RSC) at the University of Oxford have collaborated on an exploratory survey of refugees in three European countries – Austria, the Netherlands, and the UK. This survey studied a small sample of refugees and businesses aiming to enhance understanding of the economic lives of Syrian refugees in Europe with a particular focus on employment. The study seeks to contribute to the conversation on the challenges facing refugees as they seek work, and how to best support them as they settle in their host countries. More research and better understanding of these challenges can help target the assistance and support that businesses, government, and NGOs are providing for the refugees in Europe.