Skills profiling of Syrian refugees in Lebanon

This report presents findings from a comprehensive skills profiling assessment conducted by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in collaboration with UNHCR Lebanon, targeting 1,069 Syrian refugees across Lebanon. It examines refugees’ skills, employment status, and return intentions to inform tailored programming under the PROSPECTS partnership. The results reveal a strong willingness among refugees to work and engage in training, yet highlight persistent structural barriers, including limited access to market-relevant TVET, low formal employment rates, and insufficient job matching services. Women face compounded challenges such as caregiving responsibilities, mobility constraints, and restricted decision-making autonomy.

The analysis distinguishes three groups based on return intentions, identifying variations in skills, demographics, and aspirations. While participation in TVET is widespread, it shows limited impact on employment outcomes, emphasizing the need for better alignment with labour market demand. The report provides actionable recommendations, including flexible, gender-responsive training, entrepreneurship support, and evidence-based programming grounded in current labour market needs.