Digital Tool Aims to Boost Refugee Employment in Switzerland

Switzerland, a global leader in innovation, faces a paradox: while many businesses struggle to find qualified workers, a significant number of refugees seeking to rebuild their lives possess valuable skills. Bridging this gap is not an act of charity but a significant economic opportunity.

Despite a growing refugee population, including around 208,000 refugees and 17,000 asylum seekers in Switzerland, their employment rate remains low. After three years, only about 43 percent of refugees are employed. This integration process, though improving, is significantly faster when the state, civil society, and businesses collaborate.

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Integration needs time, but it proceeds faster when the state, civil society, and companies work together.

Companies like Ikea Switzerland offer a model for success. Since 2016, Ikea has supported over 300 refugees through programs combining language courses, internships, and job readiness training. Many have secured long-term positions, now contributing to the company's success by serving customers and strengthening teams.

To further facilitate this integration, a new digital tool called Path2Work has been launched. Developed by ETH Zurich and the University of Lausanne, this platform, supported by the UNHCR office for Switzerland and Liechtenstein, aims to streamline the job search for refugees and is available to employers free of charge. This initiative is part of a broader European effort to enhance refugee employment opportunities.

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We need to take this initiative to different parts of the country so that more Ugandans can benefit from emergency medical response knowledge and skills.