Resources for employers in Luxembourg
Resources for employers in Luxembourg
We use "refugees" to encompass forcibly displaced people with different legal statuses, such as refugees, subsidiary protection holders, temporary protection holders, asylum seekers, and other people in need of international protection.
In cases where differentiating information relating to each status is essential (i.e. regarding the right to work), this is clearly indicated.
Why hire refugees and stateless people in Luxembourg?
Luxembourg is one of the countries with the highest percentage of foreigners, with 170 nationalities recorded in the country. Out of 644,000 people, nearly 50% are foreigners, the majority of whom are nationals of the European Union (in particular from Portugal, France and Italy). Among the foreign-born population, more than 10,000 are refugees and temporary protection holders. Given this context, Luxembourgish companies know the value of multiculturalism well, and many have developed successful practices for diversity management and inclusion. With the help of local businesses, forcibly displaced people are successfully integrating into the local job market, gaining self-sufficiency, and contributing to the national economy.
Read more about why hiring refugees is good for business and good for the world
The benefits of hiring refugees and stateless people are many: from increased retention and recruitment pipelines, tackling labour shortages and skills gaps, to creating stronger and more appealing brands for consumers who care about social impact. In fact, 51% of consumers are more likely to buy from a brand that hires refugees, with this percentage increasing to 58% among Gen Z and 53% among Millennials.
A good example
Minusines is a leader in distributing electrical and lighting appliances in Luxembourg, founded in 1925. The company worked with the Employment Development Agency (ADEM) to expand the workforce in its workshop with qualified electricians. The hiring managers selected a refugee from Syria who had experience as an electrical engineer and, despite lacking his official diplomas, was able to demonstrate all of the skills and knowledge required for the job. He started his employment with a professional internship, after which he was promoted by the company and hired on a permanent reinsertion contract. Watch a video of this and four more success stories of employers who have hired refugees in Luxembourg.
How many refugees and stateless people are there in Luxembourg?
As of 2024, there were 10,262 refugees and 3,088 asylum-seekers in Luxembourg. The top 3 countries of origin of refugees include Ukraine (4,148), Eritrea (2,079), and Syria (2,043).
As of mid-2024, there were approximately 93 recorded stateless people and people of undetermined nationality in Luxembourg.
Visit the Refugee Data Finder to learn more
How many of them are working?
For asylum-seekers, 21 temporary work permits were granted to asylum seekers in 2019, 46 in 2022, and 117 in 2023. The increase in work permits in 2023 is partly because the Employment Development Agency (ADEM) no longer needs to conduct a labour market test to issue a temporary work permit from September 2023. Regarding recognized refugees, 444 were registered as jobseekers with ADEM in June 2017, rising to 660 by 2023. 60% are aged between 30 and 44, 51% have little or no education, and 22% have a university degree. In the case of temporary protection (BPT) beneficiaries from Ukraine, the employment rate was 31% at the end of March 2024. Around 30% of those in work who have fled Ukraine work in the health and care sector, where there is a significant shortage of skilled workers. Other sectors include food production, cleaning, and sales.
View the guidelines on hiring asylum-seekers or beneficiaries of international protection by the Employment Development Agency
What are the main challenges?
Some of the challenges which forcibly displaced people encounter in Luxembourg include: 1) Many companies prefer not to employ asylum-seekers simply because the administrative procedures are a deterrent, 2) Many refugees do not have sufficient knowledge of English or the administrative languages of Luxembourg, 3) Many forcibly displaced people, especially BPT from Ukraine, are women, often with children who need childcare to work, 4) Some of the available jobs to refugees are precarious or short-term, 5) Refugees may be dealing with challenges related to temporary housing.
Read the UNHCR report on specific aspects of the process of integration of beneficiaries of international protection (in French)
Stateless individuals in Luxembourg may face significant challenges in accessing employment due to legal and bureaucratic barriers. Recognition as a stateless person does not automatically grant a residence permit, which is essential for legal employment. Without valid identification documents, they struggle to register residence, open bank accounts, or obtain driving licenses, further hindering job opportunities. Additionally, access to education and vocational training is contingent upon the type of residence permit held, limiting skill development necessary for the labor market. These obstacles can lead to social and economic marginalization, relegating stateless persons to precarious, low-wage employment or exclusion from the formal labor market altogether.
| Status | Who it applies to | Right to work? | Process |
| Asylum-seekers | Individuals who have applied for international protection but still have not received a decision on their application. | An asylum seeker can apply for a temporary work permit from the Employment Development Agency (ADEM) no earlier than 6 months after the application for international protection has been submitted to the General Department of Immigration of the Ministry of Home Affairs. | Before considering hiring an asylum seeker, any employer must declare the vacant position to ADEM and submit a number of documents, including the AOT application form, a certificate of application for international protection, certificates attesting the professional qualifications, the employment contract, a CV, and a letter explaining and justifying the employer's employment of the applicant. Temporary work permit applications are approved or rejected by the Minister responsible for immigration. |
| Refugee status | Individuals who have a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion. | Refugees have full access to the labour market. | The process is the same as for citizens. |
| Subsidiary protection | Individuals who do not qualify for refugee status but who are unable to return to their home country because it would mean they face capital punishment, torture or inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment. | Beneficiaries of subsidiary protection have full access to the labour market. | The process is the same as for citizens. |
| Stateless person | A stateless person is someone who is not considered as a citizen by any country (whether recognized as such or not). | The recognition of the status as a stateless person does not automatically give the right to a residence permit. The beneficiary of the status is considered a third-country national and must, after obtaining the biometric travel document, submit an application for a temporary authorisation to stay and then an application for a residence permit. Access to work will depend on the type of residence permit obtained. | The process depends on the type of residence permit obtained. |
| Temporary protection | Residents of Ukraine and their family members who were forced to leave their country due to the current war. | Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BPT) do not need to apply for a temporary occupation permit. As long as their temporary protection certificate is valid, they can freely access the Luxembourg labour market. | The process is the same as for citizens. |
For more information on the legal framework, see ADEM's website.
Bear in mind
The temporary work permit for asylum-seekers is valid for only one profession and employer. It is valid for six months and is renewable. It does not entitle the holder to a residence permit or to any unemployment benefits. If the international protection application is finally rejected, the temporary work permit also ends.
How do I connect with refugee talent?
Employers can contact several NGOs that work with refugees and asylum-seekers to receive referrals to qualified candidates. These NGOs offer additional employability support and training as well as integration services. One example is ASTI, which runs projects like “Coach4Work”, where volunteer coaches provide job seekers with information and individual support, and “Connections”, which aims to integrate international protection seekers and beneficiaries into the labour market. Another organization is SINGA, which hosts CV workshops where volunteers help newcomers update or create their resumé and motivation letters. In addition, Ryse is an organization that runs the RecruitME action plan, which aims to bring refugees and employers together to facilitate their integration into the labour market. Finally, there are several organizations working with stateless people in Luxembourg, such as Caritas and ASTI.
What can I do to support refugee and stateless employees?
Businesses that would like to hire and support refugee and stateless job seekers can take several steps to ensure their recruitment and onboarding processes are refugee and stateless-friendly. Firstly, hiring managers and HR professionals can familiarize themselves with the legal framework, identity, and permit documentation for asylum-seekers, refugees and stateless people. In addition, the language requirements for job positions can be reviewed to make the positions more accessible to candidates who do not speak the local languages. Other best practices include providing support with childcare arrangements and finding accommodation. Finally, employers can ensure that the job opportunities for refugees and stateless people offer long-term stability and career growth opportunities in the company.
Useful resources
Recruitment support and incentives
The Employment Development Agency (ADEM) offers employers counselling for defining their workforce needs, assistance with candidate sourcing and screening, and information about relevant financial benefits when hiring a job seeker. These include incentives for hiring long-term unemployed job seekers, older or younger job seekers, and tax reliefs.
Job boards
ADEM has set up an online service to disseminate the job offers declared by Luxembourg companies on the following job boards. Employers can also publish vacancies on platforms like Yoopies, which have special sections for Ukrainian refugees and where Ukrainian jobseekers have a badge “Worker from Ukraine” and receive maximum visibility.
“Skills for Employment” toolkit prepared by IKEA with best practices on how employers can open employment pathways for refugees
A report by the TENT partnership for refugees on "How Hiring Refugees Helps Brands: Europe (2023)."
An article about the experiences of 3 women from Ukraine who have found employment in Luxembourg