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Labor market integration of asylum seekers in Europe: Recent trends and barriers

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Listed:
  • Lange, Martin
  • McNamara, Sarah
  • Schmidt, Philipp

Abstract

The labor market integration of asylum seekers remains a contested issue. Using the EU-Labor-Force-Survey, we characterize the state of asylum seekers' labor market integration in Europe, and provide representative statistics on several dimensions of integration. We compare asylum seekers to natives and economic migrants and find that asylum seekers struggle to integrate across European states, exhibiting employment rates of 10 percentage points lower than that of natives, on average, as well as a notable gap in job-quality. Analyzing self-reported barriers to employment, we document that asylum seekers' lower employment rates and job-quality are likely the result of institutional hurdles.

Suggested Citation

  • Lange, Martin & McNamara, Sarah & Schmidt, Philipp, 2024. "Labor market integration of asylum seekers in Europe: Recent trends and barriers," ZEW Discussion Papers 24-073, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:zewdip:312191
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    asylum seekers; refugees; labor market integration;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • K37 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Immigration Law
    • J11 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Demographic Trends, Macroeconomic Effects, and Forecasts

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