Vivere le crisi economiche nell’ombra. Una analisi del rischio di perdere il lavoro per la popolazione straniera irregolare in Lombardia (2011-2021)

Migrants are a heterogeneous group concerning their residence status, which determines their different ability to cope with economic crises. Migrants in an irregular condition are considered the most vulnerable, but empirical evidence to support this hypothesis is scarce. Using survey data from the Regional Observatory for Integration and Multiethnicity of Lombardy Region, this paper analyses the risk of transition to unemployment or inactivity status between 2011 and 2021, confirming the association with legal status. However, different trends emerge when comparing the effects of the Great Recession and the pandemic crisis. While the irregular component was more exposed to the risk of losing its job during the Great Recession, the pandemic years show the opposite trend.