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Self-employment and reason for migration: are those who migrate for asylum different from other migrants?

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  • Zovanga L. Kone

    (University of Oxford
    University of Leicester)

  • Isabel Ruiz

    (University of Oxford)

  • Carlos Vargas-Silva

    (University of Oxford)

Abstract

This paper explores differences in the likelihood of engaging in self-employment among migrants who moved for different reasons to the UK. The results suggest that, conditional on being in employment, those who initially migrated for asylum reasons are six percentage points more likely to engage in self-employment than the UK-born, while those who migrated for work reasons are not significantly different from UK-born workers in this regard. We also find that mediating factors, such as the presence of networks and years since migration, relate differently to the likelihood of self-employment for each group of migrants. Finally, there are also differences when looking at the number of persons employed by the self-employed and the skill level associated with the activity of self-employment. Those who migrated for asylum are not significantly different from the UK-born in their likelihood of employing someone else, while those who migrated for work are two percentage points less likely to employ others relative to the UK-born.

Suggested Citation

  • Zovanga L. Kone & Isabel Ruiz & Carlos Vargas-Silva, 2021. "Self-employment and reason for migration: are those who migrate for asylum different from other migrants?," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 56(3), pages 947-962, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:sbusec:v:56:y:2021:i:3:d:10.1007_s11187-019-00311-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s11187-019-00311-0
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    2. Matthias Jan Mrożewski & Daphne Hering, 2023. "What makes migrants more entrepreneurial? Investigating the role of cultural distance and human capital," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 151-176, March.
    3. Riillo, Cesare Fabio Antonio & Peroni, Chiara, 2022. "Immigration and entrepreneurship in Europe: cross-country evidence," MPRA Paper 114580, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Siwale, Juliana & Gurău, Călin & Aluko, Olu & Dana, Léo-Paul & Ojo, Sanya, 2023. "Toward understanding the dynamics of the relationship between religion, entrepreneurship and social change: Empirical findings from technology-savvy African immigrants in UK," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 186(PB).

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