Employment for Refugee Women

A resettled Rwandan refugee at work

Achieving self-sufficiency is critical for the success of refugees in the United States. As such, all adult refugees (18-64) who are able to work should make finding employment a priority. As refugees start to navigate employment in the United States, it is important to be mindful of the factors that can contribute to their success. Refugees come from a wide range of countries, bringing with them different cultural norms and expectations, as well as varying levels of prior work experience, education, and language ability. It is important to be sensitive to these factors, and to be equally aware of possible opinions (which may be strongly held) about the employment of female family members and about women working alongside men in the workforce.