Poor health early on can close the door to work for refugees
Integration, Social work, Work
12 Feb 2026
Refugees who receive a mental health diagnosis or develop musculoskeletal problems during the introduction programme face a significantly higher risk of ending up outside the labour market later on. A new Norwegian study shows that health and labour market integration are closely linked and that early interventions can be crucial for future employment and integration.
Key findings
A new study led by researcher Kjærsti Thorsteinsen at NORCE shows that health problems identified during the Norwegian introduction programme for refugees have a major impact on their chances of finding work later on. Mental health conditions in particular, but also musculoskeletal disorders, reduce the likelihood of successful labour market integration after completing the programme.
The study is based on register data from 60,325 refugees who participated in and completed the introduction programme between 2005 and 2018. The researchers’ analyses clearly show that those who were diagnosed during the programme had poorer labour market outcomes several years later.
Mental and physical ill health is common
The results show that around 20 per cent of participants received a psychiatric diagnosis during the introduction programme. The proportion increased further after the programme ended. Musculoskeletal problems were even more common: nearly 45 per cent were diagnosed during the programme, and more than half afterwards.
When the researchers followed up the participants in 2020, just over half were employed or self-employed. At the same time, more than 40 per cent were outside the labour force, for example as unemployed, students or recipients of various benefits.
A clear link to employment
The links between health and employment were strong. Refugees who had received a psychiatric diagnosis during the introduction programme had a 37 per cent lower likelihood of being employed later on. For those diagnosed with musculoskeletal disorders, the likelihood was 16 per cent lower compared with those without such diagnoses.
The researchers point out that many of the jobs available to newly arrived refugees are physically demanding, which may explain why musculoskeletal problems have such clear consequences for labour market integration.
Early interventions can make a difference
The researchers emphasise the importance of early and systematic mapping of both mental and physical health among newly arrived refugees. Better health follow-up and more health-promoting elements in the introduction programme can strengthen work ability and reduce the risk of long-term exclusion.
The study is part of the research project HelseIntro (2021–2026), which aims to generate knowledge that can be used by municipalities and the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) to improve support for refugees with health challenges.
(Kjærsti Thorsteinsen, Rebecca Nybru Gleditsch. Barriers to employment: The impact of health burdens among refugees in the Norwegian introduction programme, Journal of Migration and Health, Volume 13, 2026. DOI)
