Is the Segmented Skill Divide Perspective Useful in Migration Studies? Evidence from the Portuguese Case

Abstract

Boundaries among social scientists continuously challenge the scope for obtaining broader reaching views. This constitutes the case for migration studies, generally perceived as interdisciplinary and correspondingly gathering contributions from many social scientists with diverse disciplinary background. For example, many practical and institutional boundaries separate those studying so-called voluntary and forced migration. The same sub-disciplinary division also applies to the study of highly skilled migration. Even when treated as part of overall migration, highly skilled migrants are viewed as so specific that their study must not be mixed in with other migrants. The main aim of this paper involves discussing the relevance of this divide between high and less skilled emigration, trying to understand which aspects place them in the same framework and which facets separate them out into isolated categories. Rather than discussing the issue in general, our purpose is to put forward evidence about sociodemographic profiles, migration strategies, and the integration processes of high and less skilled emigrants moving in the same context in order to systematically compare these groups. The context chosen for such a comparison is Portugal at the beginning of the new millennium: a country that witnessed a strong upsurge in emigration over recent decades in which high skilled and less skilled emigrants both coexisted. The data analysed in this article results from a large-scale survey applied to Portuguese individuals who left the country in the new century.

Housing for talents: Highly skilled migrants’ strategies for accessing affordable rental housing

“…Though treated as part of overall migration, highly skilled migrants are viewed as so specific that their analysis should always remain apart from other migrant groups (Marques et al, 2021). Loosely defined, highly skilled migrants are those who have obtained a college degree and are employed in white-collar jobs.…”

Migrações de regresso a Portugal: uma história sem fim

“…Os regressos que resultam da emigração tradicional são oriundos dos principais países europeus de destino da emigração, como a França, a Alemanha ou a Suíça. Os regressos resultantes da emigração mais recente têm, subjacente, uma maior diversidade de destinos e de perfis de emigrantes (Marques et al, 2020), o que resulta numa maior diversidade de perfis.…”

“…A maior diferença entre os regressos do século XX e os do século XXI consiste na diversificação dos países de partida desses regressos, o que tem subjacente uma lista maior de destinos de emigração e um perfil de emigrantes e regressados também mais heterogéneo (Peixoto et al, 2019;Góis & Marques 2020). De 18 países regressaram mais de mil emigrantes, e França é o país de onde mais se regressou, com 27% do total (Oliveira et al, 2016).…”

“…A partir de meados dos anos 1980 do século XX, com a orientação da emigração para a Suíça e o Luxemburgo, continua a diversificação dos destinos, mas numa lógica predominantemente europeia que se mantém até hoje a que corresponde o terceiro período identificado. Na viragem para o século XXI adquire importância o Reino Unido, a Espanha e, com a intensificação da emigração na última década, retoma-se o destino francês e alemão (Pires et al, 2010;Peixoto et al, 2016;Góis & Marques 2020).…”