Factors Associated with the Economic Integration of Recently Resettled Refugees in the United States: Implications for Gender-Responsive Programs and Services

Background/Purpose: Forcibly displaced people form more than 1% of global population, of which 36.4 million are refugees. Women refugees often face distinct challenges, such as gender-based violence and the burden of caregiving responsibilities which could limit opportunities for language classes, education, and employment. But despite women comprising nearly half of this population, the gendered dimension of refugee economic integration, particularly in the United States, remains poorly understood. This study aims to address this knowledge gap by examining how demographic, linguistic, and health factors are differently associated with the economic integration of refugee women and men post-resettlement. The findings can contribute insights on promoting economic gender equity among refugees in the US and improve the social impact of resettlement efforts.

Methods: Data were drawn from the 2020 Annual Survey of Refugees, a cross-sectional national sample of refugee households (n=1527) who resettled in the US within five years of the survey. We used descriptive statistics, t-tests, and ANOVA to examine sample characteristics and gender differences. We conducted hierarchical logistic regression to examine the relative contribution of demographic characteristics (ethnicity, region of residence), human capital (English proficiency), and self-rated physical health (measured by a 5-point self-rated health scale) and mental health (5-point self-rated sadness scale within 30 days of the interview) on refugee economic integration. Economic integration was measured by employment status at the time of the interview. We applied survey weights in all analyses to account for the complex sampling design.

Results: The weighted sample comprised 62% men. Results partially supported the hypothesized gender differences in employment rates and associated factors. Ethnicity and English proficiency increased the odds of employment (OR=1.80, p<.005) for women but not for men. Results did not support the hypothesized association of physical and mental health for women. In contrast, only physical (OR: 1.44, p<.001) and mental health (OR: 1.37, p<.001) were associated with male refugees’ odds of employment.

Conclusions/Implications: This study reveals surprising gender differences in the factors associated with refugee economic integration in the US. The results suggest that experiences of displacement and resettlement may shape the relative significance of various factors for refugee women and men’s economic integration differently. The findings highlight the need for gender-responsive policies and services that address the unique challenges and resource needs of refugee women and men to improve economic integration. Further research is needed to further examine the underlying mechanisms of these differences and identify targets of interventions tailored to address the gendered factors in refugee economic integration and stability.