Economic integration of first‐ and second‐generation immigrants in the Swiss labour market: Does the reason for immigration make a difference?

Abstract

AbstractThe paper focuses on economic disadvantage (loss) or economic advantage (gain) among first‐ and second‐generation immigrants in Switzerland in comparison to the Swiss majority group. We distinguish between economic and noneconomic (political, family reunion, and educational pursuit) immigrants. Utilising data from the 2007 Swiss Health Survey, we found that economic immigrant males are able to attain higher income than the comparable majority group already in the first generation, whereas female economic immigrants manage to do so only in the second generation. Educational male immigrants are doing almost as well in Switzerland as male economic immigrants. In the second generation, female noneconomic immigrants are economically better integrated than their male counterparts when compared to a similar Swiss majority group. Female immigrants are able to close the pay gap with the Swiss majority group. The meaning and implications of the findings are discussed in light of immigration theory in general and the Swiss immigration policy in particular.