Employing Refugees

Information for Prospective Employers

Refugees enjoying work on a farm in Lancaster County Refugee Employment in PA


This just in: the USCIS Announces New Green Card Update and Design.
Click here for more detailed information, and for a sneak peak at the new design.

As a means for promoting self-sufficiency and facilitating adjustment to life in the US, a refugee's placement in a first job shortly after entry is a top priority of the Federal Government and the Commonwealth.

Refugees are fully authorized by the US Department of Justice to work in the United States, and are eligible to be hired for any position, except those few for which US citizenship is required. Federally-funded employment services for refugees, which include educational and other employment-related support services, are available for a period of five years. Through a variety of services offered by State-wide contractors, refugees are well-prepared for placement into positions which afford greater compensation and benefits for themselves and their families.

Employers in Pennsylvania have discovered that refugees are able to draw upon their considerable survival skills in making their transition to the US workforce. Refugees bring with them, as well, a diverse array of vocational skills and technical expertise and great motivation to succeed in building stable lives for their families.

The PA Refugee Resettlement Program (RRP) recognizes the importance of building strong relationships with employers, and provides, through its extensive contractor network, various services to employers as means for facilitating placement, retention and advancement of refugee workers.