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The Immigrant‐Native Gap in Union Membership: A Question of Time, Sorting, or Culture?

Author

Listed:
  • Sara Cools
  • Henning Finseraas
  • Magnus Bergli Rasmussen

Abstract

Trade union membership is an indicator of social integration. In this paper, we study the gap in unionization rates between immigrants and natives using high‐quality population‐wide administrative data from Norway. We document that the average unionization rate among immigrants increases strongly with time since arrival, but it never catches up fully with that of natives. Variables describing labour market sorting explain well above half of the gap, mainly because immigrants tend to be employed in firms and industries with lower levels of unionization. There are significant differences in immigrants' unionization by their country of origin, but these differences are also largely accounted for by background characteristics and labour market sorting — and they do not extend to the second generation. We conclude that existing research, which has mainly relied on survey data, has understated the importance of labour market sorting for immigrants' low unionization rates.

Suggested Citation

  • Sara Cools & Henning Finseraas & Magnus Bergli Rasmussen, 2021. "The Immigrant‐Native Gap in Union Membership: A Question of Time, Sorting, or Culture?," LABOUR, CEIS, vol. 35(1), pages 24-51, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:labour:v:35:y:2021:i:1:p:24-51
    DOI: 10.1111/labr.12186
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bernt Bratsberg & Oddbjørn Raaum & Knut Røed, 2017. "Immigrant labor market integration across admission classes," RFBerlin Discussion Paper Series 1702, ROCKWOOL Foundation Berlin (RFBerlin).
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    7. Maria Kranendonk & Paul Beer, 2016. "What Explains the Union Membership Gap between Migrants and Natives?," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 54(4), pages 846-869, December.
    8. repec:spo:wpmain:info:hdl:2441/8812 is not listed on IDEAS
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    Cited by:

    1. Silliman, Mikko & Willén, Alexander, 2024. "Worker Power, Immigrant Sorting, and Firm Dynamics," Discussion Paper Series in Economics 13/2024, Norwegian School of Economics, Department of Economics.
    2. Ferwerda, Jeremy & Finseraas, Henning, 2022. "Do Integration Courses Promote Refugees’ Social and Political Integration? Evidence from Norway," OSF Preprints 87w6e, Center for Open Science.
    3. Jirjahn, Uwe, 2024. "Corporate Globalization and Worker Representation," IZA Discussion Papers 16727, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    4. Fenet Jima Bedaso & Uwe Jirjahn, 2024. "Immigrants and trade union membership: Does integration into society and workplace play a moderating role?," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 62(2), pages 262-292, June.
    5. Barth, Erling & Bryson, Alex & Dale-Olsen, Harald, 2025. "Turning non-members into members: Do public subsidies to union membership matter?," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).

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