New Home Economics Immigrant Job-Seekers Face More than Recession By Mary MacDonell Belisle | Photo by John Linn
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f you think finding a job during this economic recession is hard, try hitting the streets as a new immigrant or refugee. For Somali families fortunate enough to flee impoverished refugee camps, finding and keeping employment adds to the culture shock that impacts every facet of daily life. One Somali woman, who spoke on condition of anonymity, fears losing her entry-level housekeeping job in St. Cloud. She works long, irregular hours while learning English at the McKinley Education Center. As much as she appreciates the safety and opportunities of her new home, she said she wishes there were more ways that the community could help connect good workers to businesses. Right now that’s a tall order; in Minnesota, there are about eight jobseekers for every available job. “There is a huge difference now,” says Mohamoud Mohamed, executive director of the St. Cloud Area Somali Salvation Organization. “Few companies are hiring refugees and immigrants in central Minnesota.” The region has been an international magnet mostly due to its entrylevel jobs in manufacturing, construction, food processing, hospitality, and agriculture. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates there are more than 13,000 immigrants and refugees residing in central Minnesota. African (mainly Somali) is the largest group, followed by East Asian and Latino. Three or four new refugee families are arriving in central Minnesota each week, according to Ismail Ali, Initiative Foundation trustee and chair of the local Somali Elders Council. “St. Cloud has been an attractive area because of businesses that hire people with limited English language skills,” said Julie Collins, St. Cloud Refugee Collaborative Employment Counselor, citing Electrolux, JennieO, and Gold’n Plump. Only about 25 percent of Collins’ mostly Somali clients have found jobs this year. Employability often depends on English skills, according to Mayuli Bales, Initiative Foundation trustee and Hispanic Ministry director at Catholic Charities’ Casa Guadalupe in Cold Spring. She said that many immigrants only have a third-grade literacy level and need help with language. “It’s not just conversational English,” she said. “It’s occupational English—there’s a big difference.” It’s the difference between, “Where is the bathroom?” and “Where is the safety control valve in case of an emergency?” Many immigrant and refugee applicants must pass employer-directed job assessments, and those 12 Initiative Quarterly Magazine
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SPREAD THE WORD: Language skills are essential for new Americans, said Mayuli Bales. “It’s not just conversational English—it’s occupational English. There’s a big difference.”
who cannot are referred to community resources. Casa Guadalupe offers English instruction that emphasizes job safety. Occupational English introduces practical words and phrases that describe concepts that may be more difficult for learners. The Stearns-Benton Employment & Training Council (SBETC) has also helped employers coordinate on-site English courses, customized to the workplace. Finding childcare is another barrier. Many central Minnesota providers can’t accommodate the unique needs of immigrants and refugees, according to Renee Hendricks Olson, executive director of Child Care Choices in St. Cloud. Language, diet, and religious needs all present challenges to providers who aren’t accustomed to serving new cultures. Olson said it’s also difficult to find overnight care for children whose parents work second and third shifts. There is also a transportation issue— is the childcare provider on a bus route? In many rural communities, public transportation is limited or nonexistent. “We’re doing what we can on a local level to make things easier,” Olson added. Child Care Choices and SBETC have joined forces on the Childcare Liaison Program. Goals include creating a drop-in center so parents can attend English classes, licensing immigrants and refugees as childcare providers, educating current providers about other cultures, and working with Metro Bus to transport children and parents. Perhaps the largest hurdle is overcoming cultural misunderstandings, racism, and resentment. In central Minnesota’s culture of humility and conformity, for example, Somali cultural behaviors are often perceived as offensive. Kathy Zavala, executive director of SBETC, said she has noticed signs of increased animosity toward newcomers. “This is about fear and desperation and increased competition for scarce resources. Some Central Minnesotans who lost their jobs feel they shouldn't have to compete with new immigrants and refugees,” she added. “But in order to make sure our whole community prospers, we have to maximize all available labor.” IQ