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Social Integration of Immigrants within the Linguistically Diverse Workplace: A Systematic Review

Author

Listed:
  • Vibha Kaushik

    (Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary, Canada)

  • Christine A. Walsh

    (Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary, Canada)

  • Diana Haefele

    (Faculty of Information and Media Studies, Western University, Canada)

Abstract

Due to international migration, a large number of workplaces are becoming linguistically diverse. This creates challenges for the workplace integration of immigrants and increases the risk of their social exclusion. A systematic review was conducted to determine the effects of linguistic diversity on social integration of immigrants within the workplace. Articles were identified by reviewing abstracts in electronic databases using keywords related to linguistic diversity, social integration, immigrants and workplace. The search yielded ten peer reviewed articles, published in English, between 2000 and 2014. Information was extracted and synthesized from both quantitative and qualitative studies. The studies were found to be concerned on: (1) social integration or social inclusion/exclusion, (2) social interaction and inter-group perception, and (3) accent discrimination. Smooth social and professional assimilation and the equality of opportunities for the immigrants were considered as the determining factors of their complete social integration in the workplace. Most studies in this review established a connection between social integration and local language skills; some indicated that racial discrimination and ethnicity based stereotyping contributes to social exclusion of immigrants, particularly when the studies involved visible minorities. The review enhances our understanding of challenges of complete social integration faced by immigrants and reinforces the need to invest in policies and program aimed at preventing marginalization of immigrants. Due to limited number of studies identified by this review and the variation in findings, further research is necessary to investigate the role of linguistic diversity in the workplace integration of immigrants in immigrant receiving countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Vibha Kaushik & Christine A. Walsh & Diana Haefele, 2016. "Social Integration of Immigrants within the Linguistically Diverse Workplace: A Systematic Review," Review of Social Sciences, LAR Center Press, vol. 1(1), pages 15-25, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:lrc:larrss:v:1:y:2016:i:1:p:15-25
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Michael A. Shields & Stephen Wheatley Price, 2002. "The English language fluency and occupational success of ethnic minority immigrant men living in English metropolitan areas," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 15(1), pages 137-160.
    2. Yadong Luo & Oded Shenkar, 2006. "The multinational corporation as a multilingual community: Language and organization in a global context," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 37(3), pages 321-339, May.
    3. Christian Dustmann & Francesca Fabbri, 2003. "Language proficiency and labour market performance of immigrants in the UK," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 113(489), pages 695-717, July.
    4. Eero Vaara & Janne Tienari & Rebecca Piekkari & Risto Säntti, 2005. "Language and the Circuits of Power in a Merging Multinational Corporation," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 42(3), pages 595-623, May.
    5. Eero Vaara & Janne Tienari & Risto Santti & Rebacca Piekkari, 2005. "Language and the Circuits of Power in a Merging Multinational Corporation," Post-Print hal-02311809, HAL.
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    Cited by:

    1. Vibha Kaushik & Julie Drolet, 2018. "Settlement and Integration Needs of Skilled Immigrants in Canada," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 7(5), pages 1-14, May.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Immigrants; Language; Linguistic diversity; Social integration; Workplace.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • J70 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - General
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • M14 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Corporate Culture; Diversity; Social Responsibility

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