IKEA has demonstrated a continued commitment to supporting refugees and asylum seekers through its Refugee Workforce Inclusion program. Initially launched as a pilot, the program has evolved into a permanent recruitment pillar within IKEA Australia. The initiative began in 2021 and has since transitioned from an 8-week paid work placement to providing secure, ongoing employment opportunities for refugees and asylum seekers from diverse backgrounds. In partnership with Community Corporate, the program has offered paid work placements to more than 180 individuals from 23 different cultural backgrounds, speaking 40 different languages. In total, the pilot resulted in the employment of roughly 3,000 refugees by the beginning of 2024.
Globally, IKEA has announced new commitments to further the integration of refugees into the workforce by 2027. The Ingka Group, IKEA’s largest retailer, aims to increase the employability of an additional 3,000 refugees and asylum seekers by the end of 2027. This goal builds upon the success of the Skills for Employment program, which surpassed its 2019 target by supporting 2,935 asylum seekers and refugees between 2019 and 2023, with 54% finding employment within or outside IKEA.