Resilient Attitudes? a Study of Caseworker Attitudes Towards Refugees in a Period of Increased Migration.

The aim of this study is to investigate if and how caseworker attitudes towards refugees have changed over the period from 2007 and 2015 - and how attitudes interact with how caseworkers exercize discretion. We are particularly interested in the importance of caseworker attitudes when it comes to program quality, i.e in terms of user influence and transition to employment. The analysis is based on two representative web-surveys  among street level bureaucrats in the Norwegian Introductory Program for newly arrived refugees, conducted in 2007 and 2015. In this period the influx of refugees to Norway has increased substantially. The introductory programme is a comprehensive programme combining language classes and work training. The goals for the programme when it comes to transition to employment are ambitous, and participation is compulsory for up to two years. Participants are entitled to a so called introductory benefit, amounting to 19196 Euro per year. The comprehensive and compulsory nature of the program makes is it a case of particular interest.