Predicting Meaningful Employment for Refugees: The Influence of Personal Characteristics and Developmental Factors on Employment Status and Hourly Wages

Refugee demographic and developmental variables were evaluated as predictors of employment outcomes following a six-month
non-governmental organization (NGO) directed resettlement period. The sample consisted of 85 refugee adults (18 to 54 years)
who were resettling in a medium sized urban setting in the western United States. Demographics included sex, age, education
level, and English proficiency. Developmental factors included number of years spent as a refugee. Results suggested that
for each year spent as a refugee there was a corresponding decrease in the ability to secure meaningful employment. Implications
for vocational interventions with refugees are discussed within the framework of Social Cognitive Career Theory.