Show Notes
The number of refugees worldwide has doubled in the past decade to 32 million, making forced displacement one of the defining challenges of our time. Yet the struggle to balance humanitarian response, labour market realities, and long-term development is not new.
In this second episode of Refugees at Work – What Are Their Prospects?, we speak with Katy Long about the ILO’s 100-year history navigating refugee and migration issues. From the League of Nations’ response to Russian refugees in the 1920s to the Cold War politics that reshaped the international system, the conversation reveals surprising continuities and enduring challenges.
Together, they discuss how historical approaches to employment, migration, and displacement continue to shape today’s policy choices — and what bold, creative solutions may be needed to ensure refugees can fully contribute to economic and social development in their host communities.
More from World of Work podcasts by the ILO
The latest episode of the “Global Challenges - Global Solutions” podcast explores the transformative role of Big Data in shaping policies and informing decision-making in today’s interconnected world. Big Data is different from traditional data, covering a wider range of information, and can include insights gathered from mobile phone data This new tool for powering economic development and informing policymaking can improve people’s lives and address the growing need for new and decent jobs. However, Big Data also raises concerns or questions around privacy, data sources and governance.
This PROSPECTS podcast episode explores how the private sector can drive economic inclusion of young refugees by expanding access to decent work and protecting their rights at work. Roman Bojko, Human Rights and Social Impact Leader at Ingka Group shares more about the company’s global Skills for Employment initiative and lessons learned from integrating refugee talent across 26 countries. The conversation highlights how hiring refugees is not just the right thing to do - it’s also good for business, fostering innovation, resilience, and inclusion in the workplace.
Is trade good or bad for jobs? For years, ILO research has shown how international trade can be an engine of growth and creating decent jobs. But things are changing. The realities of trade and investment today are far more complicated than they used to be, and globalization has had an uneven impact. So, does it still mean that trade remains a viable strategy for promoting growth and reducing poverty while creating decent work opportunities men and women? In this podcast, we explore the influence of trade and investment on jobs in today’s world and some policy options with Christophe Ernst, ILO expert on trade and investment.
Investments in skills are instrumental in achieving social and economic goals. From the perspective of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, skills are important to achieving SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth, SDG 4 which includes TVET, and others.
In this sixth episode of Refugees at work – What are their prospects?, we explore how the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus (HDPN) is reshaping the international refugee response. Speakers, Svein Erik Stav and Tewodros Aragie Kebede share research findings and field experience from Uganda, Ethiopia, Jordan and Colombia, where new policies have expanded refugee access to work and fostered economic inclusion.