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The jobs immigrants do: issues of displacement and marginalisation in the Irish labour market

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  • Thomas Turner

    (Kemmy Business School, University of Limerick, tom.turner@ul.ie)

Abstract

Recently Ireland experienced rapid economic growth and an inflow of immigrants into the labour force. Using census data this article examines the occupational distribution of immigrants by country of origin and whether immigrants displace native workers from jobs. In the period studied it seems that immigrant workers have relieved bottlenecks in the labour market and have been complementary rather than substitutes for native workers. Between 2002 and 2006 the proportion of immigrants employed in high-skill jobs decreased while the number in low-skill jobs increased substantially. Compared to Irish nationals the possession of education qualifications for immigrants, particularly those from the 10 new EU member states, does not appear to confer the same advantages. The evidence here indicates a significant degree of occupational downgrading and ‘brain waste’ among non-nationals.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas Turner, 2010. "The jobs immigrants do: issues of displacement and marginalisation in the Irish labour market," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 24(2), pages 318-336, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:woemps:v:24:y:2010:i:2:p:318-336
    DOI: 10.1177/0950017010362148
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Commander, Simon & Nikolaychuk, Olexandr & Vikhrov, Dmytro, 2013. "Migration from Ukraine: Brawn or Brain? New Survey Evidence," IZA Discussion Papers 7348, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Kingston, Gillian & O'Connell, Philip J. & Kelly, Elish, 2013. "Ethnicity and Nationality in the Irish Labour Market: Evidence from the QNHS Equality Module," Research Series, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number BKMNEXT230.
    3. Susan Ressia & Glenda Strachan & Janis Bailey, 2017. "Operationalizing Intersectionality: an Approach to Uncovering the Complexity of the Migrant Job Search in Australia," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(4), pages 376-397, July.
    4. Gillian Kingston & Frances McGinnity & Philip J. O’Connell, 2013. "Discrimination in the Irish Labour Market: Nationality, Ethnicity and the Recession," Working Papers 201323, Geary Institute, University College Dublin.
    5. Kureková, Lucia Mýtna & Žilin?íková, Zuzana, 2016. "What is the Value of Foreign Work Experience? Analysing Online CV Data in Slovakia," IZA Discussion Papers 9921, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    6. Nick Williams & Adnan Efendic, 2019. "Internal displacement and external migration in a post-conflict economy: Perceptions of institutions among migrant entrepreneurs," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 17(4), pages 558-585, December.

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