Integration Norden and Nordregio ask the following question in the recently published report “Immigrant women in Nordic labour markets: A double disadvantage?”
Read this article in Norwegian on Arbeidsliv i Norden
There is no straightforward answer to this question according to the report’s authors. They point out there are more factors than these two that influence how this group fares in the labour market.
The report compares the labour market situation for migrant women in Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark.
Four findings stand out:
- Migrant women and migrant men from the same origin countries face the same challenges in the labour market. Particularly those from Africa and the Middle East generally have lower employment rates and occupational status than native-born Nordic workers.
- Migrant women have lower employment rates than native-born women in the Nordics.
- Migrant women are not more likely to work part-time. This suggests that access to employment, rather than reduced working hours or contract type, is the more prominent barrier to labour market integration.
- The report’s findings do not support the idea that immigrant women face a “double disadvantage”, i.e. that barriers related to gender and migrant background reinforce one another and create greater obstacles than either factor in isolation.
The researchers believe the findings should inform policymaking on labour market integration of migrants in the Nordic countries. They argue that policy must the account of the fact that:
- Migrant-related barriers remain a primary challenge.
- Some migrant women face additional barriers.
- Your origin country matters.
- The policy focus should be broader than just access to employment
