Journals / Kamu Yönetimi ve Teknoloji Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 8 Sayı: 2

The Role of NGOs in Addressing Employment Challenges Faced by Refugees and Migrants: The Cases of Turkey, Austria, Sweden, and Romania

Mülteciler ve Göçmenlerin Karşılaştığı İstihdam Sorunlarında STK’ların Rolü: Türkiye, Avusturya, İsveç ve Romanya Örneği

Eser Gemici(ANADOLU ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-8969-3151
Kadir Kılıç(Eskişehir Valiliği)0009-0004-2267-4011
Pages
141–163
Publication Date
2026-08-08
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Ultimately, the study proposes strengthening NGO capacity, coordinating with public policies, and adopting a holistic (employment + psychosocial) approach for sustainable labor force and social environment integration, particularly for refugees.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:This study analyzes the barriers refugees and migrants face in accessing the labor market and the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in overcoming these barriers, using comparative examples from Turkey, Austria, Sweden, and Romania.
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Key Findings & Data:The article examines the country guides produced within the scope of the project “The Path to Employability: Empowering local NGOs working with refugees and migrants” and the practices in the youth workers' handbook, focusing on practices aimed at increasing the employability of refugee/migrant youth, particularly those aged 18–25.
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Conclusion & Impact:Ultimately, the study proposes strengthening NGO capacity, coordinating with public policies, and adopting a holistic (employment + psychosocial) approach for sustainable labor force and social environment integration, particularly for refugees.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Mülteci ve göçmen istihdamı · Sivil toplum kuruluşları (STK) · İş gücü piyasasına entegrasyon

Abstract

This study analyzes the barriers refugees and migrants face in accessing the labor market and the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in overcoming these barriers, using comparative examples from Turkey, Austria, Sweden, and Romania. The theoretical framework combines the human capital approach with the structuralist/labor market segmentation perspective, demonstrating that employment outcomes cannot be reduced to individual characteristics alone; rather, language, qualification recognition regimes, discrimination, legal-institutional regulations, and working conditions are decisive factors. The article examines the country guides produced within the scope of the project “The Path to Employability: Empowering local NGOs working with refugees and migrants” and the practices in the youth workers' handbook, focusing on practices aimed at increasing the employability of refugee/migrant youth, particularly those aged 18–25. At this point, NGOs emerge as critical complementary actors with their operational flexibility and inclusive service delivery (language and skills courses, job search support, mentoring, psychosocial empowerment, and social bridging). As a result, stakeholders in all four countries understand that language proficiency is a prerequisite for employment; that equivalence/certification bureaucracy increases under-skilled employment; and that discrimination and weak social environments make job searching difficult. Furthermore, case studies such as digital storytelling in Sweden, job shadowing/mentoring in Austria, organizational mapping in Turkey, and photovoice methods in Romania show that these approaches increase visibility, self-confidence, and access to services for refugee youth. Ultimately, the study proposes strengthening NGO capacity, coordinating with public policies, and adopting a holistic (employment + psychosocial) approach for sustainable labor force and social environment integration, particularly for refugees.

Özet

Bu çalışma, mülteciler ve göçmenlerin iş gücü piyasasına erişimde karşılaştıkları engelleri ve bu engellerin aşılmasında sivil toplum kuruluşlarının (STK) rolünü Türkiye, Avusturya, İsveç ve Romanya örnekleri üzerinden karşılaştırmalı biçimde analiz etmektedir. Kuramsal çerçeve, insan sermayesi yaklaşımı ile yapısalcı/işgücü piyasası segmentasyonu perspektifini birlikte kullanarak, istihdam sonuçlarının yalnızca bireysel niteliklere indirgenemeyeceğini; dil, nitelik tanıma rejimleri, ayrımcılık, yasal-kurumsal düzenlemeler ve çalışma koşullarının belirleyici olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır. Makale, “The Path to Employability: Empowering local NGOs working with refugees and migrants” projesi kapsamında üretilen ülke rehberleri ile gençlik çalışanları el kitabındaki uygulamaları inceleyerek, özellikle 18–25 yaş arası mülteci/göçmen gençlerin istihdam edilebilirliğini artırmaya dönük uygulamaları ele almaktadır. Bu noktada STK’lar operasyonel esneklikleri ve kapsayıcı hizmet sunumlarıyla (dil ve beceri kursları, iş bulma desteği, mentorluk, psikososyal güçlendirme ve toplumsal köprü kurma) kritik bir tamamlayıcı aktör olarak ortaya çıkmaktadırlar. Sonuç olarak paydaş dört ülkede de dil yeterliliğinin istihdamın önkoşulu olduğu; denklik/sertifikasyon bürokrasisinin vasıf altında istihdamı artırdığı; ayrımcılık ve zayıf sosyal çevrenin iş aramayı zorlaştırdığı anlaşılmaktadır. Yine İsveç’te dijital hikâye anlatımı, Avusturya’da iş gölgeleme/mentorluk, Türkiye’de kurumsal haritalama ve Romanya’da photovoice yöntemleri gibi vaka çalışmalarının da mülteci gençler için görünürlüğü, özgüveni ve hizmetlere erişimi artırdığını göstermektedir. Nihayetinde çalışma, özellikle mülteciler için sürdürülebilir iş gücü ve sosyal çevre entegrasyon için STK kapasitesinin güçlendirilmesini, kamu politikalarıyla koordinasyonu ve bütüncül (istihdam+psikososyal) bir yaklaşımı öneri olarak ortaya koymaktadır.

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Cite This Article

Gemici, E., Kızılkum, Ş., Kılıç, K. (2026). The Role of NGOs in Addressing Employment Challenges Faced by Refugees and Migrants: The Cases of Turkey, Austria, Sweden, and Romania. Kamu Yönetimi ve Teknoloji Dergisi, Cilt: 8 Sayı: 2, 141–163. https://doi.org/10.58307/kaytek.1915501

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