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Occupational Mobility for Immigrants in Sweden
Author(s) -
Rooth DanOlof,
Ekberg Jan
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
international migration
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.681
H-Index - 64
eISSN - 1468-2435
pISSN - 0020-7985
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-2435.2006.00364.x
Subject(s) - transferability , occupational mobility , immigration , refugee , occupational prestige , social mobility , demographic economics , human capital , sociology , political science , geography , economic growth , demography , population , socioeconomic status , economics , social science , law
ABSTRACT With unique data material from the Immigrant Labour Market, Language Skill and Social Network project (IASS), based on interviews with four refugee immigrant groups (Ethiopians/Eritreans, Chileans, Iranians, and Romanians/Hungarians) occupational mobility is analysed from home country occupation to the first occupation in Sweden as well as occupational mobility during the first 15 years in Sweden. The study supports a U‐shaped occupational mobility relationship. For many people the first occupation in Sweden has a lower status than the home country occupation. The explanation may be a lack of international transferability of human capital and/or discrimination. Later, upward mobility in occupational status sets in. The U‐formed relationship is deeper for those refugees who had a high occupational status in their home country compared to those with a lower occupational status. Upward mobility was also stronger for those refugees who acquired a Swedish academic education and for those who had become fluent in Swedish.