Engaging BME Skills in the labour market of their home countries: Opportunities and Challenges Onome Ako AfricaRecruit 12 th July, 2007

The Survey About 120 survey respondents Targeted questions to find out 1. Profile of candidates 2. Success in integration in the job opportunities in host countries 3. Interest in engaging in opportunities in home countries or else where 4. Challenges faced in engaging with opportunities 5. Suggestions to inform next steps

Summary of Survey 53% of respondents have spent between 0-10 years in the UK while 49% have spent 10 years and over 85% have undertaken additional qualifications to improve their career prospects with 12% currently undertaking additional qualifications. 69% have successfully secured employment in the United Kingdom while 92% will like to go back to their home countries /continents, with 4% not interested in returning and the other 4% not sure if they will like to return.

How Long have you been in the United Kingdom 21% 23% 9% 4% 18% 15% 12% 0%20%40%60%80%100% 0-2 Years 3-5 Years 6-10 Years Years Years Over 20 Years Born & Lived in UK 0-2 Years3-5 Years6-10 Years11-15 Years YearsOver 20 YearsBorn & Lived in UK

Have you undertaken any additional qualifications to improve your career prospects? Yes (85%) Currently Undertaking Additional Qualifications (12%) No (3%) YesNoCurrently Undertaking

Have you been able to successfully secure employment in the United Kingdom Yes 82% Other 3% No 15% YesNoOther

Is the employment relevant /rewarding o your academic background or your chosen career ? No 31% Not Applicable 4% Yes 65% YesNoNot Applicable

Have you been able to acquire new skills and experience in your chosen career path? No 14% Yes 86% YesNo

Do you intend to go back to work in your country/continent of origin? No 3% Not Sure 9% Yes 88% YesNoNot Sure

What are the challenges that will present as an obstacle to you working in your country/continent of origin? Kindly rank in order of priority with 1= greatest challenge to you and 7 = least challenging factor

What sector are you looking for employment in your country of Origin? 7% 43% 22% 15% 5% 3% 0%20%40%60%80%100% Public Private NGO All Sectors Public/Private Private/NGO Public/NGO PublicPrivateNGOAll SectorsPublic/PrivatePrivate/NGOPublic/NGO

Areas of specialisation where respondents will like to work in include: Oil and gas Telecommunications Education Banking and Finance Infrastructure technology Environmental Management Health Communication and Media

Have you already made efforts to secure employment in your country / continent of origin? Yes 63% No 37% YesNo

Were you successful in securing a job in your country of origin? No 80% Ongoing 11% Yes 9% YesNoOngoing

What challenges do you think you will face if you return? 31% 19% 10% 23% 16% 1% 0%20%40%60%80%100% Working Conditions Professional Integration Social Integration Loss of Int. Exposure All of the Above Others

What challenges did you face? 39% 17% 25% 14% 5% 0%20%40%60%80%100% Access to Information Unsuitable Positions Inadequate Job Offer Interview Process Others

What are your suggestions on how you can be facilitated to effectively engage with job opportunities in your home country? Better publicity of job vacancies Adequate relocation and salary packages comparable(to U.K/developed economies) – consider families Availability of the right and timely information sources Interviews carried out remotely More websites dedicated for jobs in Africa with subscription systems for up-to-date jobs Regular career fair / recruitment abroad for companies based in Africa.

What are your suggestions on how you can be facilitated to effectively engage with job opportunities in your home country? Alerts of vacancies could be sent to inbox as well as mobile phone alerts Encourage individual-individual mentorship schemes with professionals in Africa to provide guidance Opportunities for broad-based / random networking Most African based organisations do not allow on-line application and this should be addressed

Thank You A fricaRecruit / FindajobinAfrica 18 Pall Mall, London, SW1Y 5LU Tel: Website: