Asylum seekers in Europe are usually not allowed to work freely. There are certain conditions under which one can work only in specific areas where there are more vacant positions.

When the asylum seekers apply and wait for their decision of asylum they request for permission to work. Under certain circumstances they can work with limitations. They can only do jobs and cannot become self-employers.

In case, when the asylum seekers are not allowed to do work and they have already waited for their application for a longer time, they can again apply for work permission.

When they are granted the asylum they seek for work permit and work like others do.

If their application for asylum gets rejected, they can again apply for it and can also seek work permission. If the asylum seekers are not able to bear their own food and living expenses they can ask government to support them. In this way they become an economic burden on the host country. They can also work voluntarily without any pay if they want.

The host countries are reluctant to grant work permit to asylum seekers before the approval of their case because an asylum seeker is not someone who comes for economic reasons.

In the light of above stated conditions one can say that asylum seekers do not actually give a great economic benefit to the country until and unless they are given the status of a refugee or they work voluntarily without money.

Refugees in the U.S. can work immediately after landing in the country. Even when an 'Employment Authorization Document' (EAD) is being prepared, Refugees can present their 'Arrival Record' as permission for employment.