Using a robust comparative, multidimensional and interdisciplinary framework, that is sensitive to the impact of political-institutional, societal and individual-related enablers or barriers for the integration of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers into the labour market and into society, more broadly, SIRIUS aims to achieve the following scientific, policy and public impacts:
In terms of its scientific impact, SIRIUS will generate new scholarly knowledge about the characteristics (skills and qualifications) of post-2014 migrants, refugees, asylum seekers and how their skills can be utilized - therefore, contributing towards a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by refugees and asylum applicants in connection with their skills, qualifications, access to education, and employability.
Furthermore, SIRIUS will expand problem-solving capacities relating to how to make efficient use of the skills of migrants, by bringing to light new data about how different groups of migrants, refugees, asylum seekers rebound from barriers towards integration - therefore, contributing towards shaping a more responsive policy framework that understands and addresses their needs, experiences and aspirations. In this context, the micro-level research in WP6 (Individual Barriers and Enablers) - by using biographical interviews and the innovative tool of film essays - takes a closer look at the needs of migrants and refugees/asylum seekers, with a specific focus on the needs of women and young people, vis-à-vis their skills (for this we will also use an applied game to inquire about their individual needs for seeking employment opportunities), the perception of the citizens of their host societies, and what migrants themselves consider to be barriers and enablers to potential avenues for integration, so as to disentangle those factors that are necessary to inform the design of integration policies and programmes that are inclusive to their needs and voices.
In terms of public impact, SIRIUS will reinforce public awareness about the need to use a different language in public debates on migration and labour market integration – thereby, building more inclusive and reflective labour markets and societies. An underlying contention of SIRIUS is that we can’t make a positive case for migration using growth and employment figures alone. We also need to replace scaremongering with solidarity and empathy, as well as a healthy dose of pragmatism regarding how labour market integration of recent migrants, refugees and asylum seekers can be promoted for the benefit of everyone. We need to talk about jobs. Not just the jobs that catalyse the journeys and decisions of migrants and refugees and the jobs that countries with ageing populations need to fill, but also the jobs and wages that many fear will be 'stolen' by refugees and migrants. This too cannot be achieved using general employment figures alone. It requires an understanding of the different political and economic realities of transit and host countries, and of the specific needs, rules and realities of different employment markets. It is in this respect that the cross-national comparative design of SIRIUS includes European countries with varying degrees of exposure to the recent migration and refugee fluxes, diverse legal and institutional systems, contrasting degrees of political and institutional decentralization, distinct socio-economic contexts as well as variegated historical experiences with issues surrounding the integration of migrants (the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Italy, the UK, and Switzerland) which will help unveil where and how solutions work, who benefits and why.
