The international literature hypothesized a “U-shaped” pattern of immigrants’ occupational trajectories from origin to destination countries due to the imperfect transferability of human capital. However, empirical evidence supporting this hypothesis is available only in single-country studies and for “old,” Anglo-Saxon migration countries with deregulated labor markets. This article compares Italy, Spain, and France, providing evidence that the more segmented the labor market, the higher immigrants’ occupational downgrade on arrival, independently from skills transferability and other individual characteristics. Paradoxically, the more segmented the labor market, the more important the acquisition of host-country specific human capital for subsequent upward mobility.

Fellini, I., Guetto, R. (2019). A “U-Shaped” Pattern of Immigrants’ Occupational Careers? A Comparative Analysis of Italy, Spain, and France. INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION REVIEW, 53(1), 26-58 [10.1177/0197918318767931].

A “U-Shaped” Pattern of Immigrants’ Occupational Careers? A Comparative Analysis of Italy, Spain, and France

Fellini, I
;
Guetto, R
2019

Abstract

The international literature hypothesized a “U-shaped” pattern of immigrants’ occupational trajectories from origin to destination countries due to the imperfect transferability of human capital. However, empirical evidence supporting this hypothesis is available only in single-country studies and for “old,” Anglo-Saxon migration countries with deregulated labor markets. This article compares Italy, Spain, and France, providing evidence that the more segmented the labor market, the higher immigrants’ occupational downgrade on arrival, independently from skills transferability and other individual characteristics. Paradoxically, the more segmented the labor market, the more important the acquisition of host-country specific human capital for subsequent upward mobility.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
assimilation; ethnic penalty; immigrant occupational mobility; labor market; segmentation;
Immigrants' occupational careers, Human capital, Labor Market segmentation
English
5-apr-2018
2019
53
1
26
58
reserved
Fellini, I., Guetto, R. (2019). A “U-Shaped” Pattern of Immigrants’ Occupational Careers? A Comparative Analysis of Italy, Spain, and France. INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION REVIEW, 53(1), 26-58 [10.1177/0197918318767931].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/186747
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