Occupational Mobility for Immigrants in Sweden

Abstract

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.