A young man and his mom came into our office a few months ago looking for work. His English wasn’t perfect and he was very young. However, I loved his enthusiasm and hired him on the spot. I learned later that he was a Syrian refugee, and soon after our first meeting I was able to attend his naturalization ceremony. This process touched the center of my heart and I cried as I witnessed him being sworn in as a United States Citizen. I wondered what had touched me so deeply and realized that it was his intense gratitude for his citizenship. Watching his ceremony, I reflected on the turmoil and torture in different parts of the world, displacing millions.   Imagine turmoil so extreme that it drives one to abandon way of life, climate, career and culture. It’s such a travesty. Our country was built by immigrants and refugees. The gratitude they bring to our communities is a model for us all. 

Usually, when forced to flee, refugees initially move to camps near their home countries' borders. While living in refugee camps, many are given simple assignments and responsibilities but there is very little commerce or career building in these camps. Some of the fortunate and determined find themselves in developed countries throughout the world. The United States has the largest resettlement program in the world. However, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) estimates there are around 26.6 million refugees worldwide, and in 2021 the United States took in only 12,500. To be resettled in the United States, refugees go through several background checks, screenings, and interviews, a process which takes an average of 2 years. Before refugees arrive, it is established where in the United States they will initially live and which refugee resettlement agency will help orient them to life in the United States.

As of 2021, the Utah Refugee Connection estimates that there are approximately 65,000 refugees living in Utah (close to 2% of the state’s population). In recent years, Utah traditionally welcomed 1,100 refugees per year until 2017 when the number dropped to 400. The number of refugees admitted annually has since stayed at that level. Utah receives refugees from more than 40 countries including Iraq, Bosnia, Somalia, and Sudan. The vast majority of Utah refugees reside in Salt Lake County, but refugee communities are growing throughout the Wasatch Front. Refugees bring colorful culture and depth to our somewhat homogenous society. They invite everyone to celebrate their cultures during festivals throughout the year and on World Refugee Day every June at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City.

Two resettlement agencies—Catholic Community Services and the International Rescue Committee—assist newly arrived refugees assigned to Utah . Organizations like CCS and IRC offer support services for refugees upon arrival, including financial assistance for the first thirty days. This short time frame can leave refugee families in  vulnerable situations where they must take low wage employment and become susceptible to entering into a cycle of poverty. Our goal should be to have our refugee neighbors share their talents with us, by connecting them with fulfilling work and long term work. 

What can local companies do?

With the competitive job market we have today, it’s to our advantage to reach out to our refugee neighbors to connect them with fulfilling work. Begin by finding your local resettlement agencies. Learn the specifics about refugee communities in your area and the work organizations are already doing to assist them. Then consider the following: 

 

Be a friend to refugees

There are so many ways to help that don’t involve job placement but are just as important to getting refugees ready for gainful employment. The greatest need of a refugee is to have authentic friends. Everything is new to them and helping them navigate their new community will make the most difference. A task as simple as how we clean our clothes here could be quite foreign to them. In Salt Lake City, the Mayor’s office facilitates connecting volunteers who want to work directly with refugees through their Know Your Neighbor program.  

Support a short-term training program

Refugees arriving in the U.S usually need direction finding work. A 2016 study showed that refugees who participate in formal skill-building programs are able to earn a living wage within 13 months of program completion, on average. 

Furthermore, this same study found that refugees who don’t participate in formal skill training take an average ,  14 years post-arrival to reach a living wage. In the meantime, they supplement their income with government assistance programs.

The difference training makes is staggering. In 2017, Tifie Humanitarian provided the initial funding for short-term training programs in the four fields of warehouse, manufacturing, welding, and construction. Conducted through our State Workforce Services, these trainings build self-sufficiency and independence. The focus is not only on skills training and certification but also on language and soft skills such as dependability, reliability, and being a self-starter. After completing the training program, participants receive assistance finding employment in their field.

If your community could use resources like this, I encourage you to get involved and help fund some of these programs. The payback is worth it! 

 

See their value

Refugees bring talent, loyalty, hard work, and most of all, gratitude to the table. Many had careers in their respective countries in fields such as accounting, medicine, and trades that they were forced to abandon. They typically have to settle for lower level jobs as they begin again in a new country but have many skills to offer an open role. They also have a different viewpoint that could be tapped to expand your company’s vision. Integrating different cultures and mindsets  will take effort on your part, but think of the added value to your organization.

Hire and support refugees

I encourage you to be open to hiring and engaging refugees. the US Employers’ Guide to Hiring Refugees by the Tent Partnership for Refugees provides employers with valuable information and resources. 

Tifie Humanitarian is committed to partnering with local agencies, like Utah Valley Refugees, and other organizations to create independent refugee communities through local enterprise. Imagine what could happen if our business community commits to collaborative ingenuity, and resources to create a refugee community of contributors. It is in our best interest to be involved in their development as they become a significant talent resource for our local business community. I invite your organization to take an active role in  refugee community development. 

To learn more about refugees in the US, visit the UNHRC website at www.unhrc.org . 

Ron Zarbock is a Wasatch Front native, owner of Spherion Staffing Utah and Idaho, and Chairman of Tifie Humanitarian.