An online training programme designed to help young immigrants get work was launched today in an effort to tackle high levels of unemployment among foreign nationals living in Ireland.
The Pathways to Work programme was developed following research of the experience of young immigrants in the five different EU states taking part.
The scheme, which was funded by the EU, is available free of charge in Ireland, Britain, Spain, Italy and Poland.
It has modules on building personal confidence and self awareness, developing communication and teamwork skills, employment rights and provides information on where to find work.
The study of 186 immigrants found they encountered discrimination when they are searching for work. Some 59 per cent of respondents said bureaucracy negatively impacted their job search while 56 per cent said communication skills were a barrier to securing a job.
Hailuu Netsiyanwa, a 23-year-old Zimbabwean-born Irish resident who took part in a pilot of the training course in Ireland with nine colleagues, said it had helped boost his confidence. "Too often, it’s been our experience that the jobs we are offered do not match our academic qualifications or experience levels," he said.
The study, which was coordinated by the University of Szczecin in Poland, found the experience of young immigrants seeking jobs in all five countries was very similar.
A recent study by the European Social Research Institute found non-Irish nationals are three times more likely to report that they have experienced discrimination while looking for work than non-Irish nationals.
The online course is available at the website pathwaystowork.eu
