The Italian labour market and immigrant integration outcomes

This chapter examines the links between immigrant integration outcomes and some salient specificities of the Italian labour market: first, due to high regional disparities in labour market performances in Italy, the chapter explores the issue of immigrant mobility, including evidence on whether immigrants are more reactive to adverse labour market conditions than their native peers. Second, some specific groups of migrants have been disproportionally affected by the economic crisis and this trend tends to accelerate. The concentration of immigrants in some of the sectors and occupations hardest hit by the crisis as well as selective return migration of high-educated migrants are explored as possible explanatory factors. The long-term employability of the low-educated migrants who recently arrived is discussed, and evidence of selective lay-offs is presented. Third, immigrants are disproportionally affected by the duality of the Italian labour market. The chapter reviews potential gains from policies aimed at improving the skills of immigrants and enhancing their mobility. Finally, the high incidence of immigrant self-employment in Italy is examined, with policy responses identified.