Do Inclusive Labor Market Access Regulations Increase the Employment Rate of Asylum Seekers?

in a nutshell #11
Michaela Slotwinski and Alois Stutzer
January 2019

online version
to print A3

Messages for Decision-Makers

Cantons characterized by inclusive labor market regulations have significantly higher employment rates for N status asylum seekers.

Asylum seekers whose native language is more closely related to that of their assigned canton of residence benefit more from an open labor market.

The imperative to reduce the dependence of asylum seekers on social welfare can be addressed through facilitated access to the labor market. According to existing research, there is no evidence that this would cause more refugees to seek asylum in Switzerland. However, more research is required in this area.