Immigrant Job Search in the UK

Abstract

Most immigrant groups in the UK experience higher unemployment rates than otherwise similar UK born whites. Empirical research to date has attributed this finding to discrimination, lack of English Language fluency and the (non-) transferability of skills acquired before immigration. In this paper, we investigate how the job search methods of unemployed white and ethnic minority immigrants, and their success in exiting unemployment, compare with the UK born, using the panel element of the Quarterly Labour Force Survey, pooled over 1997-2001. We condition, amongst other things, on some observable immigrant characteristics and discuss the policy implications of our findings.unemployment, job search, immigrants