The number of refugees with literacy needs has continuously increased since 2015. While in 2015 only one in five people entitled to asylum or subsidiary protection had this need, last year this share rose to about 70 percent, according to figures from the Integration Fund (ÖIF). However, it appears that employment is independent of the language level attained.
Working on a job is possible even with a low language level, explains Julia Rothbauer, head of the “Knowledge Management and International Affairs” team at the ÖIF. A representative survey of refugees taking a German course showed that, regardless of the language level attained, about a quarter of the people were already working. Moreover, raising the language level is in no way associated with an increase in employment.
The integration of women is slower
To make it possible to take German courses outside work, the ÖIF has expanded its offer during off-peak hours. Childcare is also offered at a number of locations so that the course can also be taken by women who have no other childcare options. Overall, the labor integration of refugee women is slower than that of men, starting at a slower rate. After six years, the share of women is only 22 percent. This compares to 65.3 percent for men.
When it comes to literacy needs, a distinction needs to be made between basic illiterate people, meaning people who can’t read or write much in their native language, and those who are learning a second language, Rothbauer explains. These are people who must first learn the Latin script. Among the refugees or those entitled to subsidiary protection with a need for literacy recognized in 2022, 49 percent were mainly illiterate and 51 percent were learners of a secondary literacy (see chart above).
Dire need among young men from Syria
Statistically, the refugees in need of literacy in 2022 are most likely to be male (84 percent) and from Syria (86 percent). Three-quarters are younger than 35 years. People often come here who couldn’t go to school because of the war or had to interrupt their educational career because they fled, says Rothbauer.
If you compare the language acquisition of people with and without literacy needs, there is a significant difference. 75 percent of people with an award from 2015 to 2019 who participated in a literacy course did not complete the A2 level after a minimum of four years in Austria. However, 48 percent of the students without a literacy requirement from the same years have already achieved the B1 level and therefore have a good knowledge of German.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
