More Syrian refugees have paid work, and speak better Dutch

Photo: Depositphotos.com
Photo: Depositphotos.com

Syrian refugees are becoming more integrated into the Netherlands and are more likely to have a paid job and to speak Dutch than they were two years ago, according to new research by the government’s socio-cultural think-tank SCP.

In 2017, just 11% of Syrian refugees with a residence permit had a paid job, but this has now gone up to 34%, the SCP said. Of the Syrians who came to the Netherlands in 2014, over 40% now have paid work. The longer a Syrian refugee has been in the Netherlands, they more likely they are to have a job and to have passed official integration exams.

Syrians are also increasingly likely to ‘feel Dutch’, the SCP said. ‘This strong identification with the Netherlands goes hand in hand with having frequent social contacts with the Dutch,’ the agency said.

Syrians with residency permits give their life in the Netherlands an average score of 8.2 out of 10. They also experience less discrimination than other refugee and immigrant groups, the SCP said.

Nevertheless, 40% said they have have experienced discrimination by the Dutch and this percentage has increased slightly in the past two years.

In addition, dependency on welfare benefits remains high, and women in particular are less likely to have completed a language course or found a job than their male peers, the SCP said.

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