More than 120 million people around the world have been forcibly displaced- families torn apart, dreams put on hold, and futures clouded with uncertainty as of May 2024. According to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), this is the highest level of displacement in recorded history.
Behind the overwhelming numbers: 43.4 million refugees, 63.3 million internally displaced people, 6.9 million asylum seekers, and 5.8 million people seeking international protection are real lives and stories of resilience. They have fled their homes in search of safety, hope, and dignity.
The ongoing conflicts in regions like Ukraine and Palestine have deeply affected individuals and communities across the globe. These crises resonate with all of us, including at Humans in the Loop, where we strive daily to create job opportunities and empower conflict-affected individuals to rebuild their lives.
Whether you’re someone who has recently been displaced looking for hope or someone curious about how today’s job markets impact conflict-displaced people, this article is your guide. You’ll discover how artificial intelligence and AI technologies are opening doors for refugees in 2025, transforming industries, and creating pathways to meaningful employment in challenging times.
Challenges Refugees Face in Employment and How AI Can Help by 2025
When refugees are forced to leave their homes, they not only lose their livelihoods but also face significant challenges in re-entering the workforce.
Language barriers, unrecognized qualifications, and insufficient knowledge of available job opportunities are some of the substantial hurdles that restrict their options.
This is not all, many conflict-displaced individuals are forced into the informal labor market due to structural barriers such as the lack of legal rights to work, which often leads to low wages and poor working conditions. These circumstances sometimes push refugees into unsafe or exploitative jobs. Such challenges prevent them from accessing dignified employment, leaving their skills and potential unseen.
If you are a refugee wondering what’s next for you, take heart-there is hope. While the journey ahead may feel uncertain, the new era of booming AI technologies offers opportunities for change. However, these opportunities often come with barriers that must be overcome, such as the ability to open a bank account, secure the legal right to work, or access work platforms in countries under sanctions. Addressing these practical obstacles is essential to ensure that the potential of AI technologies can be realized by everyone, including refugees.
Artificial intelligence has the power to open doors, transforming the job market for refugees and making it more accessible and transparent. Moreover, AI-driven tools empower refugees to acquire the skills essential for thriving in today’s economy, particularly in the rapidly growing field of data annotation.
How Data Annotation and AI Will Create Job Opportunities for Refugees by 2025
Artificial intelligence is actively transforming industries around the globe and creating tremendous opportunities for professionals in machine learning, data science, and data annotation. The reality is that, as AI technologies progress, the demand for skilled workers in data annotation is set to surge dramatically.
To understand the strong connection between data annotation and refugee employment opportunities, it is essential to recognize how this industry can deliver substantial benefits to displaced individuals.
Data annotation is the vital process of labeling and categorizing various types of data, including images, text, and audio, to enable machine learning models to learn effectively. This process is crucial for the advancement of AI systems, positioning data annotation as a key driver of job creation.
On the other hand, for refugees, data annotation presents a unique opportunity to gain employment in the digital economy. It is easy to train for, and entry-level opportunities in annotation can provide a pathway into the industry without formal education. At the same time, many refugees are highly qualified but face challenges such as unrecognized credentials or language barriers.
With the proper training and support, refugees can successfully transition into data annotation roles that provide flexible hours and competitive pay.
Artificial intelligence is a key in data annotation, as it streamlines the labeling process and increases the demand for trained professionals in this field.
How Humans in the Loop Uses AI and Data Annotation to Support Refugees in 2025
If you are a refugee with numerous questions, wondering how to enter the data annotation job market, where to start, and whom to turn to, one way is Humans in the Loop. This organization effectively provides a diverse group of conflict-affected and displaced individuals with vital career development support, upskilling opportunities, and remote work options.
Humans in the Loop (HITL) is an award-winning social enterprise that involves both a for-profit company and a charitable foundation. Both entities work together with the goal of helping refugees, displaced persons, and asylum seekers develop new skills and gain work-related experience in AI, particularly data annotation.
To date, Humans in the Loop has provided data annotation remote work opportunities to more than 1000 conflict-affected people in Bulgaria, Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Yemen, Portugal, Ukraine, Moldova, Kenya, and the DRC.
The Humans in the Loop Foundation focuses on equipping refugees with the skills they need to succeed in the AI-driven economy. Support is provided through:
- Instructor-led English and IT training helps refugees enhance their language and digital literacy skills, essential for success in the modern workforce.
- Self-paced training in essential professional skills, allows refugees to balance their training with other commitments.
- Personalized career mentoring to help refugees transition into the workforce and overcome job market challenges.
- Training the beneficiaries for jobs in the expanding AI and data annotation fields.
The programs are designed to meet the specific needs of the beneficiaries. We recognize that many refugees are facing challenging circumstances and often have limited access to resources. We also provide flexible online courses that they can complete at their own pace.
Data annotation training is particularly valuable for refugees, as it requires no prior experience and can offer immediate job opportunities in a rapidly growing field
If you are wondering how to get started as a data annotator or curious about how it all works, fill out the form here.
A Path Forward- Creating Job Opportunities for Refugees in 2025
2024 has been an incredibly challenging year, not only for the millions of individuals displaced by conflict but for the world grappling with the weight of these humanitarian crises.
With a record-breaking 120 million people forced to flee their homes, the scale of displacement is unprecedented. Behind each statistic lies a story of families separated and lives disrupted. Refugees, rebuilding a life from scratch often feels like an uphill battle, navigating unfamiliar systems while carrying the scars of what they’ve endured.
In this challenging environment, the role of responsible organizations and companies cannot be overstated. Whether it’s providing access to training, mentorship, or dignified work, every effort counts in turning these hardships into new opportunities.
How do you think AI will shape the future of work for refugees? Share your thoughts in the comments below!