Refugee Youth in Sweden Who Arrived as Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children

Abstract

Abstract The number of children fleeing and/or seeking asylum alone without parents or guardians has been increasing during the last decade worldwide, where Sweden has been receiving the largest number of asylum claims by unaccompanied minors in Europe. Despite the growing interest in the situation of this group in destination countries, there is a lack of research articles that address this group with nationwide comprehensive data. This study examines the labour-market situation of the whole population of the refugee youth who entered Sweden as unaccompanied minors or separated children and were registered during the years 2003–12. We investigate whether this group is in a disadvantageous situation regarding labour-market incorporation compared to their counterparts who arrived with their families due to their specific marginalized and vulnerable position within society. The results show that this group exhibits capacity and resilience in terms of finding employment and willingness to work. The results are discussed with a structural incorporation framework from a reception and integration policy perspective as well as from an immigrant wellbeing and a ‘whole-child’ approach.