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Ethnic Minorities in the European Union: An Overview

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  • Martin Kahanec
  • Anzelika Zaiceva
  • Klaus F. Zimmermann

Abstract

This paper sheds light on the labor market situation of ethnic minorities in the European Union. Facing a serious measurement challenge and lacking adequate data, we apply several measures of ethnicity and examine various data sources as well as secondary evidence. We find significant gaps between ethnic minority and majority populations in terms of labor market outcomes. In particular, ethnic minorities appear to face disproportional difficulties in finding a job. Although experience in the host country improves the status of immigrant minorities, we do not find any clear assimilation of further immigrant generations. Roma people seem to face particularly grave integration barriers in European labor markets.

Suggested Citation

  • Martin Kahanec & Anzelika Zaiceva & Klaus F. Zimmermann, 2010. "Ethnic Minorities in the European Union: An Overview," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 1090, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:diw:diwwpp:dp1090
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    23. Zimmermann, Klaus F. & Kahanec, Martin & Constant, Amelie F. & DeVoretz, Don J. & Gataullina, Liliya & Zaiceva, Anzelika, 2008. "Study on the Social and Labour Market Integration of Ethnic Minorities," IZA Research Reports 16, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
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    Cited by:

    1. Ritzen, Jo & Kahanec, Martin & Haas, Jasmina, 2017. "EU Mobility," IZA Policy Papers 125, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Hazans, Mihails, 2011. "What Explains Prevalence of Informal Employment in European Countries: The Role of Labor Institutions, Governance, Immigrants, and Growth," IZA Discussion Papers 5872, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Elyakim Kislev, 2018. "Transnational social mobility of minorities: a comparative analysis of 14 immigrant minority groups," IZA Journal of Migration and Development, Springer;Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 8(1), pages 1-21, December.
    4. Guzi, Martin & Kahanec, Martin & Kureková, Lucia Mýtna, 2015. "What Explains Immigrant-Native Gaps in European Labor Markets: The Role of Institutions," IZA Discussion Papers 8847, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    5. Botrić Valerija, 2016. "Attitudes Towards Immigrants, Immigration Policies and Labour Market Outcomes: Comparing Croatia with Hungary and Slovenia," Croatian International Relations Review, Sciendo, vol. 22(76), pages 5-28, October.
    6. Stefan Jestl & Michael Landesmann & Sebastian Leitner & Barbara Wanek-Zajic, 2019. "Employment Gaps Between Refugees, Migrants and Natives: Evidence from Austrian Register Based Labour Market Data," wiiw Working Papers 167, The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, wiiw.
    7. Christina Felfe & Martin Huber, 2017. "Does preschool boost the development of minority children?: the case of Roma children," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 180(2), pages 475-502, February.
    8. Hazans, Mihails, 2011. "Informal Workers across Europe: Evidence from 30 Countries," IZA Discussion Papers 5871, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    ethnicity; ethnic minority; migration; unemployment; labor force participation; labor market;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
    • J71 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Hiring and Firing

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