Migration and Careers: a Longitudinal Approach

Abstract

Migration interrupts the development of a persons career, particularly in the case of women, who often have to abandon their profession when they leave their country to come to France. However, immigrants gradually return to work as they spend more time in France, but the return to work rate is slower for women. The effect of migration on employment is also much greater for those immigrants who arrived after the 1973-1974 oil crisis. Significant differences exist between immigrants, notably according to their country of origin: immigrants from Southern Europe are more likely to be employed. Beyond their simple participation in the labour market, there are significant differences not only in terms of the type of employment immigrants hold, but also in terms of their promotion prospects. Immigrants usually start their professional career in unskilled blue-collar or white-collar jobs and are not promoted as often as non-immigrants.Immigrant Workers, Job Mobility, Occupational Mobility, Gender