The Problematic Labor Market Situation of Immigrants to Sweden - Consequences and Causes.

• After describing the immigrant population in Sweden by country of origin, employment among foreign born and their children is surveyed. Employment rates among first- and second-generation immigrants are lower than among native born. Employment rates are particularly low among persons born in low- or middle-income countries - persons who often are easy to distinguish from natives by physical appearance, name and language skills. There appear to be several interrelated reasons for such a state. We discuss explanations that focus on characteristics of the immigrant, the process of hiring work applicants, the relatively high minimum wages of the Swedish labor market as well as legislation and its implementation. The consequences of weak labor market integration are numerous. They include a larger use of social assistance and invalidity pensions among immigrants than among natives, as well as increasing pressure on the public sector budgets. Gaps in disposable income between natives and many immigrant groups are reported. The weak employment situation of immigrants has also led to many immigrants and their children living in less-advantaged neighborhoods, aggravating problems of residential segregation which can have far-reaching social consequences.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Sociologi -- Socialt arbete (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Sociology -- Social Work (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Ekonomi och näringsliv -- Nationalekonomi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Economics and Business -- Economics (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Invandrare Sverige

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)