Untapped talent of refugees could boost economy by £100 million
Britain is missing out on a vast pool of skills and talent by failing to make best use of highly qualified refugees and asylum seekers, a charity said today.
The Council for Assisting Refugee Academics (Cara), backed by the Trades Union Congress and Commission for Racial Equality, said it was a scandal that foreign expertise was going to waste given the skills shortages in many professions in the UK.
Only a fraction of the estimated 1,500 refugee doctors, dentists and other health professionals and the 2,000 engineers, scientists, educationalists, health and computer experts are employed in jobs that match their skills and experiences, the Cara report contends.
The council says business and the public services could save thousands of pounds by retraining foreign workers for work and life in British professions.
It estimates that the 5,000 foreign academics seeking refuge in Britain could boost the economy by £100 million if they were allowed to work.
John Akker, the council’s executive secretary, said: “At a time when there are shortages in many key areas of the economy such as engineering, science and medical professions, many refugees with precisely these skills are unemployed or undertaking unskilled jobs.
“This is not only a waste, it is a scandal that more is not done. We urgently need greater resources and guidance for refugees to stop pools of talent remaining untapped.”
The Blair government’s heavy-handed focus on trying to show it was tough on asylum missed many chances to capitalise on this “untapped talent”, she added.
In collaboration with the TUC, the council has published advice for refugees on how to apply and find funding for courses.
Frances O’Grady, deputy general secretary of the TUC, said it was “tragic” many talented individuals were denied work opportunities simply because they were not British.
