“It’s More Than a Job”: Afghan Refugees’ Perspectives on Economic Integration In the United States

Background: Forced displacement is often abrupt and unplanned, placing refugees and asylum seekers at heightened risk of economic exclusion upon arrival in host countries.^1,2 Disruption of social networks, combined with structural barriers such as xenophobia and limited access to resources in host or resettlement countries further constrains pathways to economic integration. Although economic integration is widely recognized as a cornerstone of post-displacement well-being, it is often conceptualized narrowly, overlooking the broader, multidimensional realities shaping refugees’ lives.^1,3,4

Methods: This interpretive qualitative study draws on semi-structured interviews (n = 26) and five focus group discussions with 60 adult Afghan refugees in the United States, exploring their conceptions of economic integration. Data were collected in St. Louis, Missouri, between May 2024 and May 2025 using purposive sampling with referrals from the study’s community advisory board, including Afghan community leaders. Eligibility criteria included being 18 years or older, born in Afghanistan, and having arrived in the United States as a refugee or in a refugee-like status (e.g., SIV holder, humanitarian parolee, or asylee). Only one individual per household was recruited, with priority given to heads of household. Literacy was not required; however, participants needed to speak fluently in one of the study languages. Interviews and FGDs were conducted in Dari, Pashto, or English, and with consent from participants audio-recorded, and transcribed.

Audio recorded files were transcribed verbatim using a HIPPA compliant platform. Transcripts were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis to support an interpretive approach.⁵ Analysis was inductive, beginning with familiarization and open coding. Each transcript was coded by at least two researchers (four coders for interviews and three for FGDs), with regular team meetings to refine codes and develop a codebook. The PI led the synthesis of codes into higher-order themes and facilitated reflexive discussions with the research team. Memos were maintained throughout the process, and negative case analysis was used to enhance analytic rigor.⁶

Results: Participants frequently defined economic integration in terms of self-sufficiency with meaningful employment and emphasized English language proficiency as a foundational capability for accessing it. At the same time, they expanded existing frameworks by highlighting the importance of transportation-related assets in the U.S. context. Participants also identified population-specific structural pressures, including single-earner strain within large households and ongoing remittance obligations amid Afghanistan’s economic crisis, as key barriers to integration. Participants articulated gender-normative expectations as a factor contributing to single-earner households, beyond structural barriers related to caregiving responsibilities.

Conclusions and Social Work Implications: Findings highlight the need to move beyond narrow, employment-focused definitions of economic integration toward multidimensional, capability-informed approaches that account for structural barriers, including limited access to transportation. For social workers as frontline service providers, these insights align closely with the person-in-environment perspective, emphasizing the interaction between individual capacities and broader social and structural contexts.