A recent publication provides employers a guide to hiring Afghan refugees. Over 70,000 Afghan refugees have arrived in the United States since August 2021. Another 30,000 may soon arrive before the beginning of 2022. Most arrived with the clothes they wore, some important documents, and a few possessions in a backpack. They are being resettled in communities across the U.S. and for a short period of time will be assisted by resettlement agencies. Part of this assistance will be lining up work for the Afghan refugees so they can support themselves and their families.
Regardless of immigration status, newly arriving Afghans are legally authorized to work and the U.S. government has provided them with the appropriate documentation to present to potential employers. Not all of these Afghan refugees speak English, but many of them do. Some bring with them technical skills that will assist them integrating into the U.S. workforce.
A recent guide, published in November 2021, provides information to employers and businesses that want to hire Afghan refugees. It includes facts about the legal status and documentation of the Afghans as well as a list of organizations that can connect businesses to Afghans looking for work.
The major sections of this report are entitled:
- Introduction
- Factsheet
- Why Hire Afghan Refugees
- How to Hire Afghan Refugees
- Connecting with Afghan Refugee Talent
- Appendix: Resources
The guide to hiring Afghan refugees was prepared by the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) and the Tent Partnership for Refugees. LIRS is a national organization that was founded in 1939 and has been dedicated exclusively to serving refugees, asylum seekers, and other vulnerable immigrant communities in the United States. The Tent Partnership for Refugees was founded in 2016 and consists of a network of over 200 major companies committed to hiring refugees.
U.S. Employers’ Guide to Hiring Afghan Refugees
PDF, 42 pages.