Engaging BME Skills in the labour

market of their home countries: Opportunities and Challenges

Onome Ako

AfricaRecruit

12th July, 2007

The Survey

About 120 survey respondents

Targeted questions to find out

1. Profile of candidates

2. Success in integration in the job opportunities in host countries

3. Interest in engaging in opportunities in home countries or else where

4. Challenges faced in engaging with opportunities

5. Suggestions to inform next steps

Summary of Survey53% of respondents have spent between 0-10 years in the UK while 49% have spent 10 years and over85% have undertaken additional qualifications to improve their career prospects with 12% currently undertaking additional qualifications. 69% have successfully secured employment in the United Kingdom while 92% will like to go back to their home countries /continents, with 4% not interested in returning and the other 4% not sure if they will like to return.

How Long have you been in the United Kingdom

21%

23%

9%

4%

18%

15%

12%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

0-2 Years

3-5 Years

6-10 Years

11-15 Years

15-20 Years

Over 20 Years

Born & Lived in UK

0-2 Years 3-5 Years 6-10 Years 11-15 Years15-20 Years Over 20 Years Born & Lived in UK

Have you undertaken any additional qualifications to improve your career prospects?

Yes(85%)

Currently Undertaking Additional

Qualifications(12%)

No(3%)

Yes No Currently Undertaking

Have you been able to successfully secure employment in the United Kingdom

Yes82%

Other3%

No15%

Yes No Other

Is the employment relevant /rewarding o your academic background or your chosen career ?

No31%

Not Applicable4%

Yes65%

Yes No Not Applicable

Have you been able to acquire new skills and experience in your chosen career path?

No14%

Yes86%

Yes No

Do you intend to go back to work inyour country/continent of origin?

No3%

Not Sure9%

Yes88%

Yes No Not Sure

What are the challenges that will present as an obstacle to you working in your country/continent of origin? Kindly rank in order of priority with 1= greatest challenge to you and 7 = least challenging factor

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10

20

30

40

50

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1=GreatestChallenge

7= LeastChallenging

What sector are you looking for employment in your country of Origin?

7%

43%

22%

15%

5%

5%

3%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Public

Private

NGO

All Sectors

Public/Private

Private/NGO

Public/NGO

Public Private NGO All Sectors Public/Private Private/NGO Public/NGO

Areas of specialisation where respondents will like to work in include:

Oil and gas

Telecommunications

Education

Banking and Finance

Infrastructure technology

Environmental Management

Health

Communication and Media

Have you already made efforts to secure employment in your country / continent of origin?

Yes63%

No37%

Yes No

Were you successful in securing a job in your country of origin?

No80%

Ongoing11%

Yes9%

Yes No Ongoing

What challenges do you think you will face if you return?

31%

19%

10%

23%

16%

1%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Working Conditions

Professional Integration

Social Integration

Loss of Int. Exposure

All of the Above

Others

What challenges did you face?

39%

17%

25%

14%

5%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Access toInformation

UnsuitablePositions

Inadequate JobOffer

InterviewProcess

Others

What are your suggestions on how you can be facilitated to effectively engage with job opportunities in

your home country?

Better publicity of job vacancies

Adequate relocation and salary packages comparable(to U.K/developed economies) – consider families

Availability of the right and timely information sources

Interviews carried out remotely

More websites dedicated for jobs in Africa with Email subscription systems for up-to-date jobs

Regular career fair / recruitment abroad for companies based in Africa.

What are your suggestions on how you can be facilitated to effectively engage with job opportunities in

your home country?

Email Alerts of vacancies could be sent to inbox as well as mobile phone alerts

Encourage individual-individual mentorship schemes with professionals in Africa to provide guidance

Opportunities for broad-based / random networking

Most African based organisations do not allow on-line application and this should be addressed

Thank YouAfricaRecruit / FindajobinAfrica

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email: info@africarecruit.comWebsite: www.africarecruit.com

www.findajobinafrica.com