The workplace – just as important as the residential area for integration

The study focuses on the share of colleagues from the same country of origin ("conationals") in the first job after arrival, and the results show that a higher share of conationals has negative effects on employment several years later. An increase of ten percentage points in the share of conationals in the first workplace raises the likelihood of being unemployed after six years by about three percentage points. Why is this the case?

“First, the opportunity to learn the language, rules, and norms of the new country is reduced when one primarily interacts with conationals at work. Second, the first workplace’s network—meaning colleagues—often plays a major role in finding the next job. If these contacts are mainly conationals with weaker ties to the domestic labor market, it can limit opportunities,” says Sébastien Willis.

The study also shows that this does not lead to increased return migration—very few leave the country—but rather that more people become self-employed or unemployed. The effect is less evident when it comes to wages, but it has a significant impact on the likelihood of being employed at all.

The findings add nuance to the understanding of ethnic clustering in the labor market. In the short term, starting a job with people from one’s own country may feel safe and effective—but in the longer term, it appears to hinder integration into the labor market.

“The study contributes to a growing body of research on how immigrants’ first steps in a new country can shape their entire future career path. It also highlights the importance of viewing the workplace—not just the residential area—as a key arena for integration,” says Sébastien Willis.