Chapter 5 ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL IMPACT OF THE KAREN RESETTLEMENT IN BENDIGO, AUSTRALIA A series of reports by Deloitte Access Economics, including one published in August 2018 about Bendigo, Australia, highlights the benefits of resettlement to both the host and the resettlement community.63 Bendigo is a regional Australian city in Central Victoria with approximately 110,000 inhabitants where at least 800 Karen refugees settled between 2007 and 2018. Almost 21,000 Karen refugees have been resettled to Australia during the same time period. In Bendigo, the local community identified that resettlement had ”an unexpected and positive impact on the broader community and, as a result, contributing to an appreciation of the contribution new settlers can make in other ways”. In addition to the social contribution, economic modelling undertaken by the report’s authors estimated that over a 10-year period, the total economic impact from the regional resettlement of the Karen population on the Bendigo economy was just more than 67 million Australian dollars (in net present value terms), with an associated impact on employment of 177 full-time-equivalent jobs. In common with refugee populations globally, the Karen population currently comprises a disproportionately high share of children. The report predicts that, all things being equal, the Karen labour force will continue to grow over time, adding to the productive capacity of the region in years to come. The research indicates that several conditions led to the success of resettlement in Bendigo, including strong leadership from both the host and the settling communities as well as the availability of opportunities for employment and affordable housing. In addition, the support provided in the transition from school to work or further training in Bendigo for Karen youth encourages their aspirations to study and to find ‘good’ jobs and provides opportunities for high levels of participation in the community, education and workplaces. Lastly, the report highlights the responsiveness of the services in the region and the natural advantages of relatively small regional cities such as Bendigo in terms of lifestyle and as a safe place to raise a family. 63 https://www2.deloitte.com/au/en/pages/economics/articles/ economic-social-impact-karen-resettlement.html Local integration Millions of refugees around the world live with little hope of ever returning home. When resettlement or repatriation are not options, building a new life in the country of asylum offers a durable solution to their plight. Local integration of refugees can include the provision of legal status and naturalization. It is a dynamic and two-way process. Refugees must be prepared to adapt to their new country, while host communities and public institutions who welcome refugees must strive to meet the needs of a diverse population. To effectively integrate refugees, institutions at national and local levels, UNHCR > GLOBAL TRENDS 2019 as well as local communities and civil society, should proactively foster social cohesion and ensure refugees can access the job market. Globally, the integration of refugees in the countries’ labour markets remains challenging. For example, in Uganda, a 2018 survey by the World Bank estimated that 4 in 5 refugees were unemployed and refugees earn wages that are 35 to 45 per cent lower than the host population.64 Refugees have a lower employment rate than compared to the native-born population and other migrants, making refugees one of the most vulnerable groups in the labour market. 64 https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/32511 53