Immigrant integration is a broad and complex concept that is difficult to define precisely. In public discourse, it is often used in various ways and includes multiple dimensions. This project aims to provide decision-makers and civil society with a greater understanding of how integration is conceptualized and measured in the Nordic countries by conducting a comparative analysis of the economic and social integration of migrants in societies in recent years.
In this project, we propose to measure migrant integration around two key dimensions: economic and social integration:
- The first dimension is connected to the migrants’ educational qualifications and employment status to indicate their establishment on the labor market in the host country and their economic well-being.
- The second dimension, social integration, corresponds to the migrant’s participation in the social, cultural, and political life of the host community.
The project will be organised in three parts:
- The first part will provide key numbers and highlight the main differences and similarities about the inflow of migrants and their economic integration in the Nordic countries. The analysis takes as its starting point the new integration statistics recently published in the Nordic Statistics Database, hosted by Nordregio. The database features 12 harmonized integration matrices focusing on migrants’ education levels and labor market outcomes. It also includes annual figures on immigration and emigration flows, which offer valuable contextual information.
- The second part takes a step beyond traditional measures of economic integration and reviews existing indicators of migrants’ social integration. The project departs from a concept analysis and a list of indicators for social integration suggested in a recent report by the Nordic Welfare Center, for instance voter turnout and naturalisation rates — which can serve as proxies for civic participation and a sense of belonging.
- The third part will develop a policy brief that provides recommendations on whether and how a common Nordic survey on social integration can be developed. It will use a combination of statistical mapping, national report review, and assessment of social integration dimensions.
Nordregio is a sole partner in this project.
