New immigrants have been integrated into the labour markets of receiving countries in very different ways. In the ‘old’ receiving countries of central and northern Europe their unemployment rate has proved much higher than that of natives, while those in jobs have found reasonably skilled work in line with their educational credentials. In the ‘new’ receiving countries of southern Europe, by contrast, the unemployment rate of immigrants is only slightly higher than that of natives, but even the best-educated among them occupy very poor-quality jobs. This article sets out to explain the reasons for this discrepancy, which lie not only in the different methods of entry and variations in welfare state generosity, but also in the diverse composition of the demand for labour. We conclude by highlighting some short- and medium-term problems posed by this state of affairs.
Reyneri, E., Fullin, G. (2008). New immigration and labour markets in western Europe: a trade-off between unemployment and job quality?. TRANSFER, 14(4), 573-588 [10.1177/102425890801400405].
New immigration and labour markets in western Europe: a trade-off between unemployment and job quality?
REYNERI, EMILIO;FULLIN, GIOVANNA
2008
Abstract
New immigrants have been integrated into the labour markets of receiving countries in very different ways. In the ‘old’ receiving countries of central and northern Europe their unemployment rate has proved much higher than that of natives, while those in jobs have found reasonably skilled work in line with their educational credentials. In the ‘new’ receiving countries of southern Europe, by contrast, the unemployment rate of immigrants is only slightly higher than that of natives, but even the best-educated among them occupy very poor-quality jobs. This article sets out to explain the reasons for this discrepancy, which lie not only in the different methods of entry and variations in welfare state generosity, but also in the diverse composition of the demand for labour. We conclude by highlighting some short- and medium-term problems posed by this state of affairs.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.