Even worse than the undocumented? Assessing the refugees’ integration in the labour market of Lombardy (Italy) in 2001–2014

Abstract

The paper aimed to assess possible gaps in labour market integration or refugees compared with other migrants, including irregular migrants in the Italian region of Lombardy in 2001–2014. Despite the Italian labour market's remarkable capacity to integrate foreign workers, our findings support the results of studies carried out in other contexts on a ‘refugee gap’ in labour market integration. Our research shows that refugees have more considerable difficulties integrating into the labour market than other migrants and notably compared with their co‐nationals, including those undocumented that may be in refugee‐like situations. Refugees show higher unemployment levels, irregular employment and a higher incidence of very low monthly work‐related incomes compared with other regular migrants. At the same time, they show higher levels of unemployment compared with irregular migrants.

Traces in the shadow: Occupational outcomes of previously undocumented migrants in Italy

“…First, irregular migrants are often forced to rely on their own resources, therefore showing higher employment rates, even after regularisation. This mechanism echoes findings observed in studies on the employment gaps between refugees and other migrants: receptions system support refugees and asylum seekers but often paradoxically build “mechanisms of exclusion” that negatively impact their integration and agency compared with other migrants (Ambrosini, 2014; Korac, 2003; Ortensi & Ambrosetti, 2022). Second, previous undocumented experience also results in a persistently higher risk of entrapment in low‐quality jobs compared with other migrants.…”

War refugees from Ukraine in Poland – one year after the Russian aggression. Socioeconomic consequences and challenges

“…The most frequently studied indicators of refugees' economic integration include employment status or earnings (Bakker et al, 2017;Bevelander & Pendakur, 2014;Brell et al, 2020;Connor, 2010;Cortes, 2004;Potocky-Tripodi, 2004;Ruiz & Vargas-Silva, 2018). Studies addressing other important indicators of economic integration, such as legal status of work (Ortensi & Ambrosetti, 2021) and occupational status (Akresh, 2008;Anders et al, 2018;Connor, 2010) are much less frequent. A common message stemming from the results of studies using various indicators of the economic integration of refugees points to their inferior position in the labour market of the destination countries at the initial phase of mobility when compared with other migrants (e.g., Cortes, 2004;Ruiz & Vargas-Silva, 2018).…”

Wykwalifikowani uchodźcy z Ukrainy wyzwaniem dla rynku pracy

“…W literaturze dostrzega się, że migranci oraz uchodźcy stanowią nieco odmienne grupy na rynku pracy (Cortes, 2004;Fasani, Frattini, & Minale, 2021). Wynika to z kilku powodów: ich innej sytuacji prawnej (Ortensi, & Ambrosetti, 2022), odmiennych motywów migracji oraz innych perspektyw związanych z pobytem i pracą w kraju goszczącym. W tej ostatniej kwestii chodzi o to, że migranci zarobkowi z reguły mogą wrócić do kraju pochodzenia w dowolnym momencie, natomiast uchodźcy takiej możliwości nie mają -są zawieszeni w oczekiwaniu.…”