That’s the view from a new report released by the commission, which calls for a new deal for integration that works for the refugees themselves and wider British society. It also includes recommendations that support refugees and asylum seekers to work. 

If just two of the commission’s 16 recommendations are put into practice, benefits would outweigh costs within three years and by the end of year five would produce an overall net economic benefit of £1.2bn, the commission said in a statement accompanying the report’s release. 

The two recommendations that would deliver this benefit are English language classes on arrival and employment support given at six months, alongside the government meeting its target to process asylum applications within six months. 

This finding, coupled with new research from a survey of 755 refugees and asylum seekers (314 Ukrainians, 441 non-Ukrainians) found that despite wanting to, they are unable to use their skills and qualifications. It revealed that:

• 33% of respondents have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent and 26% have a master’s degree or equivalent
• 34% never get to use the skills they learned in their qualifications but want to
• 39% have had to drop down to an entry-level position compared to their previous role before arriving in the UK
• 76% said that not being able to use their skills or qualifications means they do not feel they are contributing to society as much as they would like, and 66% said it has affected their self-confidence
• 33% said language was the most significant barrier to work, yet 22% have been unable to access English classes due to waiting lists.

Other recommendations that would specifically help refugees and asylum seekers to work are:

• Recognise qualifications and provide access to further and higher education
• Create a programme of employment support for all refuges and those asylum seekers who are allowed to work.

The Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) released a statement about the report and recommendations, saying: “Asylum seekers want to contribute to their host country and giving them the right to work sooner would help bring some dignity and normality back into their lives.

“Embracing the skills of those who come here seeking sanctuary makes economic as well as a moral sense given our candidate shortages, with more than 1.8m unfilled job adverts in the UK – around the number of people who live in Northern Ireland.”

Dr Ed Kessler, chair of the commission, said: “Our work over the last couple of years, listening to people from across the country, commissioning these issues has provided a rich insight into what is clearly a broken system. 

“It’s expensive, inefficient and damaging for refugees and Britain. But among the debris were findings that gave us real hope and inspiration for a very different system. One that supports refugees, communities and wider society to thrive. One that our political leaders can realistically embrace.” 

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