Integration and employabilityPolicy and practice

Viktor Vesterberg, PhD Candidate

REMESO

Agenda

• Contemporary Swedish integration policy.

• Employability in contemporary Swedish integration policy.

• Integration and employability in practice.

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Emigration – immigration - integration

• Integration is connected to migration.

Source: SCB

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Who immigrates?

• Source: Migration Board

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Source: SCB

Integration?

• Economic integration?

• Social integration?

• Political integration?

• Personal integration?

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…in contrast to assimilation?

• Assimilation:

• Cultural and symbolical reshaping of behaviour and values of certain groups in line with norms of the majority.

• EU:s first principle of integration:

• Integration is a dynamic, two-way process of mutual accommodation by all immigrants and residents of EU countries.

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Swedish integration policy

• December 2010: The Public Employment Office became responsible for integrating newly arrived immigrants (Prop. 2009/10:60)

• The ”Establishment reform” of December 2010 aims at giving newly arrived a faster and more effective establishment on the labour market.

• The reform targets refugees and their relatives.

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Swedish integration policy

• Main changes:

• The state – via Public employment office - instead of municipalities are now responsible for the introduction of newly arrived refugees.

• A greater focus on a quick path to employment and self-suffiency.

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But why?

• The time from arrival to employment is too long (average 7 years)

• This is described as a personal tragedy for the migrant.

• This is described as a burden for society – both social and economic.

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What´s at stake?

• Swedens competitiveness!

• And as a consequence – Welfare!

• ”Among those who have immigrated to Sweden, there are many persons whose competence and knowledge is not used. These people could contribute to the economic growth if they were employed.” (Swedish ESF-council 2009: 22)

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What´s the remedy?

• To utilize the skills and strenghten the compentence and motivation of immigrants.

• Increase their employability.

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How is this to be done?

• ”Introduction talk” with the Public employment office – As soon as possible!

• ”Introduction plan”: Describes the activities that should support the newly arrived on her/his ”path to the labour market”.

• Introduction activities is full time and consists of:

• Swedish for Immigrants (Sfi)

• Societal orientation

• Preparation for participation on the labour market (validation of past working experience and education, work placement)

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Compensation?

• Approximately 600 Euro/month – introduction benefit.

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Is this compulsory?

• No.

• But, if one does not attend the activites prescribed by the introduction plan – no pay.

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Introduction Guide

• The newly arrived has the right to choose a guide to help their establishment in Sweden.

• The introduction guide is supposed to share their networks of employers, and to be a helping hand in the introduction to society.

• Introduction guide can be provided by a private company or civil society organization.

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Labour market - integration

• Conclusion: Labour market policies and integration policies are increasingly intertwined.

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What about EU?

• It is clear that Sweden is following a well established trend within EU policy:

• ”Employment is a key part of the integration process and the effective integration of immigrants into the labour market .“

• ”Immigrants represent an important pool of potential entrepreneurs in Europe.”

• Com (2007) Third Annual Report on Migration and Integration

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Employability in policy

• Employability has been a widespread labour market policy perspective since 1990s.

• OECD and EU embrace the notion of employability.

• Tend to focus more on the supply side of labour, in contrast to the demand side – the creation of jobs.

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Employability in Swedish integration policy

• “People who are not immediately employable should receive support to become employable.” (Empowerment against social exclusion (2008) p. 43)

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Critical remarks?

• Workfare – increasing focus on duties instead of rights.

• Swedish self-image of a modern, democratic and gender equal nation - contrast to images of ”the Others” as backwards, authoritarian and patriarchal.

• On a policy level: Sweden is a ”good example”.

• But still, ethnic segregation, ethnified class patterns, unemployment is higher among foreign born – especially outside of Europe.

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Integration and employability in practice?

• ”It could be an immigrant woman, 49 years old, been three years at SFI [Swedish for immigrants], can´t even speak every-day swedish, illiterate, never had a job in her home country, never been to school in her home country. Often comes from the middle east, arab speaking.” (Job coach)

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The project leader

• Our participants [in the project] are the ones who are furthest from the labour market.

• Most of them has been unemployed for 5 – 20 years.

• Many clients are old, 55- 60 years.

• We have to work hard to break up arab speaking groups in the project – so we can meet!

• The facilities are not functional for other things than sitting round a table and talk: What can you do with six sewing machines in an abandoned library, in a worn-down building with broken windows?

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The participants are described as…

• Having a problematic history.

• Lacking enthusiasm and belief in the future.

• Illiterates.

• Women, who due to cultural and religious traditions, can not enter the labour market.

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Integration as assimilation?

• Swedish norms and unwritten laws on the labour market.

• The employable individual is a normative category.

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But still…

• A social arena for meeting other people – integration!

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Conclusions

• The gap between policy and practice can be seen both statistically: Immigrants have higher rate of unemployment:

• Foreign born unemployment: 15,8 %

• Swedish born unemployment: 6,8 %

• Source: SCB 2012 (Central bureau of Statistics)

• And in a qualitative way: The gap between the unruly reality where integration ought to be practiced and the policies of integration.

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