Migrants' Career Prospects, Progression, and Employment: A Case Study From England and Finland

• In Event: 52.084 - Roundtable Session 20
  In Roundtable Session: 52.084-17 - Exploring Educational Issues in an International Context

Abstract

Research results show that migrants have only promises of chances to get equal opportunities in work and education. This paper aims at investigating migrants’ access to the local labour markets and career prospects respectively in two countries. The data was collected by conducting face-to-face semi-structured interviews completed with a questionnaire, and analysed using a thematic analysis method and statistical analyses. The results of the study revealed that migrants struggle finding employment that matches their competences. Prejudices, lack of the second language skills, local networks and recognition of their competence reduce their chances to secure meaningful employment. Professional advancement is very slow or non-existent. Over time, many highly educated migrants continue working in low-skilled and low-paid jobs. Implications are elaborated.

Authors

• Johanna Lahja Lasonen, University of South Florida

• Andrea Laczik, University of Oxford