African migrants struggle to find work without reference from white Australians, says report

Australia – African migrants struggle to find a job without reference from white Australians. The candidates from the African community are less likely to be considered for positions in a company if they do not have a reference from white Australians.

The University of South Australia conducted research on African migrants. The University surveyed Adelaide residents of African backgrounds. The University also talked to Cyriaque Nijenahagera, a refugee from Tanzania, to know more about migrants’ situation in Australia. The study revealed the problems faced by African migrants in Adelaide, a city in Australia.

Cyriaque Nijenahagera revealed that he could not get a job despite having a degree in social work and a master’s degree in project management. Cyriaque Nijenahagera said, “I can’t remember how many resumes I sent.”

Adelaide woman Ma-Musu Nyande revealed that she could not get a job despite attending school in Adelaide and studying at Flinders University. It gradually impacted her mental health. She said, “I was exposed to microaggressions, gaslighting and subtle racism.”

In an experiment, Nyande applied for five jobs using a “westernised name” to compare the result to five cases where she used her own name. ‘Vanessa Wood’ got three phone calls, whereas Ma-Musu Nyande didn’t get any phone calls from any company. To get the job, she had to go to the office for an interview. The phone interview went well. However, when she went there in person, the receptionist was shocked to see a visibly African woman. The receptionist said to her, “Oh, I didn’t know you were black.” The employers asked her how long she had been in Australia. They did not care about her skills, qualifications, and experiences.

Reportedly, many migrants had experienced “everyday racism” in Australia while finding suitable jobs. They need to have a good connection with the right white people to get a job.