‘I came to this country for a better life’: factors mediating employment trajectories among young people who migrated to Australia as refugees during adolescence

Nunn, C.; McMichael, C.; Gifford, S.M.; Correa-Velez, I.

doi:10.1080/13676261.2014.901496

‘I came to this country for a better life’: factors mediating employment trajectories among young people who migrated to Australia as refugees during adolescence

Nunn, C.; McMichael, C.; Gifford, S.M.; Correa-Velez, I.

Authors

C. Nunn

C. McMichael

S.M. Gifford

I. Correa-Velez

Abstract

Located at the intersection of two vulnerable groups in the contemporary labour market, young people who migrate as refugees during adolescence face a unique constellation of opportunities and challenges that shape their employment trajectories. Yet, the tendency for research to focus on the early years of refugee settlement means that we have an inadequate understanding of the factors that mediate their employment decisions, experiences and outcomes. Based on interviews with 51 young people, this article explores how aspirations, responsibilities, family, education and networks are understood to influence the employment trajectories of adolescent refugee migrants. While this article draws attention to the complex and dynamic range of challenges and constraints that these young people negotiate in the pursuit of satisfying and sustainable employment, what also emerges is an optimistic and determined cohort who, even as they at times unsuccessfully prepare for and navigate the labour market, maintain high hopes for a better life.

Citation

Nunn, C., McMichael, C., Gifford, S., & Correa-Velez, I. (2014). ‘I came to this country for a better life’: factors mediating employment trajectories among young people who migrated to Australia as refugees during adolescence. Journal of Youth Studies, 17(9), 1205-1220. https://doi.org/10.1080/13676261.2014.901496

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	Mar 3, 2014
Publication Date	Oct 1, 2014
Deposit Date	Nov 27, 2015
Publicly Available Date	Dec 7, 2015
Journal	Journal of Youth Studies
Print ISSN	1367-6261
Electronic ISSN	1469-9680
Publisher	Taylor and Francis Group
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	17
Issue	9
Pages	1205-1220
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1080/13676261.2014.901496
Keywords	Employment, Youth, Refugee, Settlement, Transition.

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Copyright Statement
This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis Group in Journal of Youth Studies on 31/03/2014, available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/13676261.2014.901496.