Equity is at the heart of everything we do, and that’s why Randstad continuously strives to ensure people of all backgrounds and experiences have equal access to employment opportunities. This is especially crucial for refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers displaced by war, persecution or violence. Helping them secure meaningful work fosters economic security, independence, and integration into their new communities, which also benefit from additions to the workforce at a time of talent scarcity.
Randstad is an industry leader in helping displaced people acquire skills and jobs. In collaboration with governments, NGOs and global organizations, we are committed to improving the lives of migrants and refugees every year through training and employment. We invest in multiple social innovation programs that aim to improve employability and promote equal opportunities for refugees. This work not only supports refugees but also connects employers to a pool of talent who are eager to contribute to their new local economy, reducing dependence on public assistance and benefiting society as a whole.
An example of our efforts in action include a modular approach to helping more than 5,500 refugees in Germany, where our program helps identify qualified participants based on skills while providing language and job training to prepare them for the local labor market. Specifically, more than 1,000 refugees displaced by the war in Ukraine were integrated into the workforce. In addition, Randstad provided coaching to 85 people in support of their job search and career growth, resulting in many securing employment.
In the Netherlands for example, Randstad run a pilot program with the city of Almere and the Dutch Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers helping refugees improve their work readiness through training.
As a member of the Tent Partnership for Refugees since 2019, we are committed to improving the working lives of 50,000 people between 2023-2025. We’ve set a target of training 10,000 people and finding jobs for 40,000 people, and in 2024 we met our 2022-2024 target of helping 20,000 refugees through job placements or training. In 2024 alone, we supported over 37,000 refugees worldwide through jobs and training.
Other initiatives include Randstad Without Borders in Italy, which prepares thousands of refugees for employment through online and classroom training and career guidance. We do this by promoting interculturality and inclusion through orientation, training, empowerment and employment of talent with a migratory background. Employers are offered consulting support and corporate staff training to advance a more conscious development of leadership and multiculturality management. Since 2017, more than 7,500 migrants and refugees have participated in the program. Additionally, the Randstad Risesmart business offers opportunities for enrollees, including an initiative that helps younger refugees with language learning, on-the-job training and labor market orientation.
We continue to seek opportunities to help those at risk to find meaningful and rewarding employment, and to support local labor markets and society at large.