Inclusion of skilled spouses in the labour market

The rapidly changing demographic composition in Europe, characterised by an aging population and a decrease in birth rates, poses significant social and economic challenges for European states (e.g. not having a younger population in the labour force, and increased pressure on health services by the older population).

Attracting highly skilled migrants (HSM) has become an essential means of addressing these challenges, and a number of countries have adopted strategies specifically targeted at attracting and retaining HSM.

The project investigates the facilitators and impediments to the labour market inclusion of highly-skilled migrant spouses (HSS) through a comparative perspective of Italy and Norway.

At the macro level, I ask (RQ1): What are the policies, practices, and programmes that focus on including HSS in the labour market and how well tailored are they to the needs of HSS?

At the meso level, (RQ2): What is the role of employers, employment agencies and rights-based organisations in addressing the challenges that HSS encounter?

Finally, at the micro level (RQ3): What career adaptability strategies do HSS develop to overcome the difficulties in finding and retaining jobs?

The methods employed include semi-structured interviews with HSS, employers, employment agencies, employee associations, practitioners and political decision-makers, combined and triangulated with policy document analysis.

The research findings will lead to policy recommendations as to how HSS can be better included in the labour market in Italy, Norway and Europe at large.