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In Europe, Arduous Jobs Fall On First-Generation Migrants. But Later Generations Benefit From Improved Opportunities

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  • Vincent Vandenberghe

    (UNIVERSITE CATHOLIQUE DE LOUVAIN, Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (IRES))

Abstract

This paper contributes to the literature on migrant labour-market disadvantages by considering one dimension that has received limited attention in Europe: their occupations’ (relative) physical arduousness. To quantify their arduousness gap, the paper combines i) data from the European Labour Force Survey (LFS) informing on occupation and immigration status with ii) information on occupational arduousness from the U.S. O*NET database, categorized at the ISCO 3-digit level. The findings reveal that first-generation migrants, particularly women and/or non-EU migrants, are disproportionately concentrated in arduous jobs, experiencing a significant disadvantage in working conditions. However, this disadvantage slowly diminishes over time, with the accumulation of residency in the host country leading to improved occupational outcomes. Notably, second-generation migrants close this gap and even experience a slight advantage in work arduousness compared to native workers, pointing to complete convergence.

Suggested Citation

  • Vincent Vandenberghe, 2025. "In Europe, Arduous Jobs Fall On First-Generation Migrants. But Later Generations Benefit From Improved Opportunities," LIDAM Discussion Papers IRES 2025007, Université catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (IRES).
    • Handle: RePEc:ctl:louvir:2025007
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Madeline Zavodny, 2015. "Do Immigrants Work in Worse Jobs than U.S. Natives? Evidence from California," Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(2), pages 276-293, April.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Work Arduousness; Migrant-Native Arduousness Gap; Working Conditions; Convergence;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J81 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Standards - - - Working Conditions
    • J62 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Job, Occupational and Intergenerational Mobility; Promotion
    • J71 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Hiring and Firing
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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