The study will examine the labour market incorporation of immigrant women across the Nordic countries, with a focus on how gender and ethnicity intersect to shape labour market outcomes. While the Nordic countries are often described as a relatively homogeneous group due to shared features of the Nordic welfare and labour market model—and are frequently highlighted for their high levels of gender equality—there are substantial differences in demographic composition and integration policies across the region. These differences are expected to have important implications for the labour market inclusion of immigrant women.
The study will aim to provide a comparative overview of both similarities and differences across the Nordic countries with regard to immigrant women’s position in the labour market. It will explore the role of ethnicity and gender in employment, job quality, and working hours. The study examines whether immigrant women experience a harder time finding employment than immigrant men from the same countries of origin, as well as compared to native-born women and men.
The study will draw on microdata from the EU Labour Force Survey and will go beyond employment rates by also examining occupational prestige and working hours as indicators of labour market incorporation. The multidimensional approach will allow for a more nuanced understanding of labour market integration, capturing not only access to employment but also differences in job quality and labour market attachment.
The publication will contribute to Nordic comparative research on migrant integration by having gender in centrum as a key analytical dimension and by providing a clear and accessible overview of how immigrant women are faring across the Nordic labour markets..
The project will be carried out by Nordregio in 2026.
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