Resource bank

Sachrajda A. and Burnell E. (eds) (2017), Making inclusion work, Reaching disenfranchised groups through work-based learning, Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), London.

This study examines the practicalities of various approaches to work-based learning as a means of achieving greater inclusivity in labour markets, through seven case studies documenting initiatives in five European countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK).

making-inclusion-work_Apr2017.pdf

Stirling A. (2015), Migrant employment outcomes in European labour markets, Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), London.

Across Europe, most migrant groups have lower employment rates, and a greater tendency to be overqualified for their jobs, than non-migrants. This report considers how European economies could benefit from the underutilised skills of their migrant populations.

migrant-employment-outcomes-in-europe-labour-markets_April2015.pdf

Coray R. and Duchêne A. (2017), Multilingualism at the workplace (Executive summary), Institut für Mehrsprachigkeit [www.institut-mehrsprachigkeit.ch] / Institut de plurilinguisme [www.institut-plurilinguisme.ch], Fribourg.

Executive summary (in German, French, Italian, Rumantsch and English) of an extensive literature review, published in German (available at www.zentrum-mehrsprachigkeit.ch/forschung/literaturberichte.html), which focuses on sociolinguistic research in Europe from the end of the 20th century onward. Topics covered include language and work, multilingualism in a changing work environment, access to the labour market and language as a gatekeeper, linguistic socialisation at work and in job training programmes, managing language diversity, multilingual practices at work, and valorisation of multilingualism at work.

Multilingualism at the Workplace (Executive Summary).pdf

Benton M. (2013), Maximizing potential: How countries can address skills deficits within the immigrant workforce, Migration Policy Institute, Washington DC.

Research report reviewing policy and practice around labour market integration across countries.
"Migrants have more complex skills needs than local workers, because of their need for country-specific skills in particular, and because they are more likely to have a unique learner profile (e.g., high educational attainment, but with the need for basic language skills)."

TCM-Skills-ImmigrantWorkforce.pdf

Centre on Migration, Policy, and Society [COMPAS] (2013), ‘With a lot of help from my friends: How do immigrants use social networks to access jobs?’, Breakfast briefing no. 24, COMPAS, Oxford.

"Understanding how individuals search and obtain jobs is important for both employers and policymakers. While job seekers typically use both formal and informal channels, the methods used appear to be relevant in whether or not they are successful in their job hunt. Focusing on immigrants in the UK, this briefing examines the extent to which individuals who rely on their social networks to look for jobs are able to secure employment."

BB-2013-Social_Networks_Immigrants.pdf

McHugh M. and Challinor A.E. (2011), Improving immigrants' employment prospects through work-focused language instruction, Migration Policy Institute, Washington DC.

Research report on policy approaches to language learning for labour market integration.
"Implementing effective employment-focused language systems is difficult, as policymakers must find ways to design cost-effective programs that are sufficiently tailored to the needs of a wide range of occupations and that take account of immigrants' underlying literacy skills and their financial and family circumstances."

workfocusedlanguageinstruction.pdf

Free online resources to help adult migrants to the USA learn English, including videos and interactive activities. Includes work-related language learning. Developed in 2008 with support from US government. Citizenship resources in development (2017).

USA Learns

US Citizenship Resource Centre

Online resource to improve communication between New Zealand employers, managers and their new migrant employees from other cultures.
Offers online test of cross-cultural / intercultural communication skills, also practical tips for migrants and employers, including More then work booklet. Developed by Immigration New Zealand in collaboration with the Language in the Workplace team, School of Linguistics & Applied Language Studies, Victoria University of Wellington.

Worktalk

More-than-words.pdf

Guidance for migrants and employers on job interviews produced by Immigration New Zealand in collaboration with Victoria University's Language in the Workplace Project.
Part of online job search resource produced by the government of New Zealand.
Guidance for migrants (and practitioners supporting them) includes
Riddiford N. (2017), Communicating effectively in a job interview: A resource for newcomers to New Zealand, The Language in the Workplace Project, School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington.

Note: this resource is aimed at migrants with professional (i.e. higher level) qualifications. Guidance for employers includes practical advice for inclusive recruitment.

Succeeding in job interviews

Communicating Effectively in a Job Interview.pdf

Online guidance for employers

Website of the German Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training.
Available in German and English.

BIBB in English

BIBB auf Deutsch