The Economic Integration of Migrants in the EU: the Impact of Mainstreaming

• In Event: Immigrant Incorporation in the EU and US

Abstract

One of the latest trends in migrant integration policy framework in the EU is ‘mainstreaming’ – the practice of bringing the needs and priorities of vulnerable groups such as migrants to the centre of attention in more generic policies (e.g. employment support, healthcare, housing, education) as opposed to seeing specific concerns of these groups as separate policy areas. Does mainstreaming promote migrant integration in the area of employment? To answer this question, I have developed a policy index of mainstreaming in labour market support. I use Bayesian multilevel regression analysis to test the country-specific policy effects on employment outcomes of migrants in the EU. Country-level data are drawn from the policy index, individual-level data are collected from the European Union Labour Force Survey (EU-LFS). My findings suggest that higher exposure of migrants to policy mainstreaming in labour market support is correlated with better labour market performance.

Author

• Salta Zhumatova, University of British Columbia