Henrik Emilsson

A Local Dimension of Integration Policies? A Comparative Study of Berlin, Malmö, and Rotterdam

This study examines three theses on local integration policies by a qualitative comparative case study of integration policies in three cities in three different countries (Berlin, Malmö, and Rotterdam). We found little evidence of a congruent local dimension of integration policies. Local policies resemble their national policy frameworks fairly well in terms of policy approaches and domains. Our multi-level perspective shows that this is not the result of top-down hierarchical governance, but rather of a multilevel dynamic of two-way interaction. Local policy legacies and local politics matter and national policies are also influenced by local approaches of integration.

Who Gets in and Why? The Swedish Experience with Demand Driven Labour Migration – Some Preliminary Results

Abstract In 2008, the Swedish government liberalised the labour migration policy to a demand driven model without labour market tests. This article analyses the effects of the policy change on the labour migration inflow. The migrants consist of three major categories including those moving to: skilled jobs as computer specialists and engineers, low-skilled jobs in the private service sector and seasonal work in the berry picking industry. The article shows that the new model has produced a labour migration inflow that is better explained by the access of employers and migrants to transnational networks rather than actual demand for labour

The male immigrant–native employment gap in Sweden: migrant admission categories and human capital

Despite having a celebrated labor market integration policy, the immigrant–native employment gap in Sweden is one of the largest in the OECD. From a cross-country perspective, a key explanation might be migrant admission group composition. In this study we use high-quality detailed Swedish register data to estimate male employment gaps between non-EU/EES labour, family reunification and humanitarian migrants and natives. Moreover, we test if differences in human capital are able to explain rising employment integration heterogeneity. Our results indicate that employment integration is highly correlated with admission category. Interestingly, differences in human capital, demographic and contextual factors seem to explain only a small share of this correlation. Evidence from auxiliary regressions suggests that low transferability of human capital among humanitarian and family migrants might be part of the story. The article highlights the need to understand and account for migrant admission categories when studying employment integration.

From refugees to workers : mapping labour market integration support measures for asylum-seekers and refugees in EU member states. Volume I : Comparative analysis and policy findings

This study has been funded by Bertelsmann Stiftung and produced by the Migration Policy Centre at the EUI.

From refugees to workers : mapping labour market integration support measures for asylum-seekers and refugees in EU member states. Volume II : Literature review and country case studies

This study has been funded by Bertelsmann Stiftung and produced by the Migration Policy Centre at the EUI.