How do gender and ethnicity shape labour market outcomes for immigrant women in the Nordic countries? A new study will examine this question by exploring how immigrant women are incorporated into Nordic labour markets, with a particular focus on the intersection of gender and ethnicity.
Although the Nordic countries are often described as relatively similar, sharing core features of welfare systems and labour market models, there are differences across the region. Variations in demographic composition, welfare reforms and integration policies play a significant role in shaping labour market opportunities for immigrant women.
Similarities and differences across the Nordics
Our study will provide a comparative overview of both similarities and differences in immigrant women’s labour market participation across the Nordic countries. By taking a cross‑national perspective, it aims to shed light on how context matters for labour market inclusion, even within a region often viewed as homogeneous. We aim to take a deeper look into the employment that migrant woman take up. Are they employed in positions that correspond to the level they are educated for? Are there possibilities for career progression? And is it fulltime possitions?
A central question is whether immigrant women face greater barriers to employment than immigrant men from the same countries of origin? And do they integrate to the labor market as well asnative‑born women and men? In doing so, the study places gender and ethnicity at the core of the analysis.
– Using microdata from the EU Labour Force Survey, our study examines occupational prestige and working hours alongside employment rates. This multidimensional perspective makes it possible to capture important differences in job quality and labour market attachment. Access to employment is only one part of the picture; examining how people are employed provides deeper insight into labour market attachment and career progression, says Senior Advisor Trine Skriver Høholt Andersen.
A gender‑centred contribution to nordic research
By placing gender at the centre of analysis, the publication will contribute to Nordic comparative research on migrant integration. It will offer a clear and accessible overview of how immigrant women are faring across the Nordic labour markets, highlighting both shared patterns and country‑specific differences.
The project will be carried out by Debora Pricila Birgier and Nora Sánchez Gassen from Nordregio in 2026, strengthening the knowledge base on labour market integration in the Nordic region.
Read more about the project: Immigrant Women’s Labour Market Incorporation – Integration Norden
Publicerad
07 May 2026
