Panel Discussion March 9th 2011 “Deskilling of qualified migrant w omen: implications and solutions” Blandine Mollard Project Officer Gender Coordination Unit International Organization for Migration Crushed hopes: under- employment and deskilling among skilled migrant women
Overview I. Key elements about deskilling, I. Key elements about deskilling, underemployment and women underemployment and women II. Research findings from the UK, Quebec II. Research findings from the UK, Quebec and Geneva and Geneva III. Recommandations Recommandations III. 2
I. Key elements on underemployment, deskilling and women � Deskilling and underemployment relate to � Deskilling and underemployment relate to the the situation of being overqualified for one’ ’s job in terms of s job in terms of situation of being overqualified for one education, professional experience or both, of skills not , of skills not education, professional experience or both being used being used � Concerns migrants most particularly Concerns migrants most particularly � Magnitude varies from one country to country � Magnitude varies from one country to country � Observed in all industrialised countries � Observed in all industrialised countries 3
I. Key elements on underemployment, deskilling and women Existing literature shows women are disproportionatly affected: Existing literature shows women are disproportionatly affected: – Women under Women under- -represented in sought after occupations (IT, represented in sought after occupations (IT, – business, engineering,… …) ) business, engineering, – Women dominate in professions less easily transferrable Women dominate in professions less easily transferrable – and more defined in the national context (education, law, and more defined in the national context (education, law, public administration,… …) ) public administration, – With migration, harder to concile family and work balance – With migration, harder to concile family and work balance – Less likely to migrate with a job contract Less likely to migrate with a job contract –
Empirical studies: in the United Empirical studies: in the United Kingdom: Kingdom: � Migrant women engaged in care work � Migrant women engaged in care work � From Eastern Europe, Africa, Southern Asia and South Eastern � From Eastern Europe, Africa, Southern Asia and South Eastern Asia Asia � Very poor working conditions (multiple employers, low pay, � Very poor working conditions (multiple employers, low pay, unsocial working hours, lack of social security,) unsocial working hours, lack of social security,) � Certified health professionals (nurses, midwives, chiropractors) � Certified health professionals (nurses, midwives, chiropractors) or teachers in their countries of origin or teachers in their countries of origin � Care work seen as a stepping stone, a temporary � Care work seen as a stepping stone, a temporary solutions before receiving accreditation solutions before receiving accreditation 5
Empirical studies: in the United Empirical studies: in the United Kingdom: Kingdom: � Main elements � Main elements Stiff barriers for migrant women to enter regulated professions Stiff barriers for migrant women to enter regulated professions such as nursing (lack of recognition of degrees, tests, expansive such as nursing (lack of recognition of degrees, tests, expansiv e fees...) fees...) No option to advance in care work No option to advance in care work Frustration at not using their skills, skills erosion Frustration at not using their skills, skills erosion Inability to realise migration expectations (family reunification, n, Inability to realise migration expectations (family reunificatio remittances) remittances) For some, phenomenon of inverted remittances For some, phenomenon of inverted remittances Example of how women can be drawn to low skilled positions Example of how women can be drawn to low skilled positions by unmet labour demands in the global care industry by unmet labour demands in the global care industry 6
Empirical studies: in Geneva Empirical studies: in Geneva � Focused on levels of distress � Focused on levels of distress � 33 women age between 26 and 62 � 33 women age between 26 and 62 � Varions migration trajectories � Varions migration trajectories � At least 5 years of university education � At least 5 years of university education � 16 different professions � 16 different professions � On average, 9 years of relevant professional � On average, 9 years of relevant professional experience experience � Engaged in low skilled, precarious and part time jobs � Engaged in low skilled, precarious and part time jobs (mainly cleaning, childcare, elderly care, sales,… …) ) (mainly cleaning, childcare, elderly care, sales, 7
Empirical studies: in Geneva Empirical studies: in Geneva � Main elements � Main elements Deskilling occurred regardless of the partners’ ’ socio economic status socio economic status Deskilling occurred regardless of the partners High levels of distress (anger, despair, sense of anonymity) caused by sed by High levels of distress (anger, despair, sense of anonymity) cau job hunting job hunting Level of distress correlated with level of underemployment and more ore Level of distress correlated with level of underemployment and m acute when children under 12 acute when children under 12 Marital difficulties including separation, divorce Marital difficulties including separation, divorce Only 6 had managed to reconvert to a new profession Only 6 had managed to reconvert to a new profession Shows the far-reaching impact of underemployment on women’s lives and the serious obstacles to reskilling and reconversion 8
Empirical studies: in Quebec Empirical studies: in Quebec � 83 women � Europe, America, Asia, Africa � Explored identity representations � Focused on reactions faced to deskilling • Women from Asia, South and Central America tend to re- orient themselves • Women from North Africa: rapid deskilled integration allowing the spouse to return to further studies. Then, being a homemaker before going back to studies, depending on the future wage-earning job of the husband.
Empirical studies: in Quebec Empirical studies: in Quebec Main elements: Psychosocial impact linked to expectations for each group Psychosocial impact linked to expectations for each group • High disapointement observed among Western European High disapointement observed among Western European • Women Women • When deskilling is seen as a step in the When deskilling is seen as a step in the « « migrant career migrant career » »= = • protective of self- -esteem esteem protective of self Further education strategy, despite the associated costs, Further education strategy, despite the associated costs, a strategy associated with a higher employment rate for a strategy associated with a higher employment rate for migrants migrants
III. Recommandations III. Recommandations •Promote gender Promote gender- -sensitive migration policies sensitive migration policies • •Analyse Analyse any un any un- -met demand for low skilled met demand for low skilled labour labour on the on the labour labour • market that could constitute a risk factor for underemployment and nd market that could constitute a risk factor for underemployment a deskilling deskilling •Improve systems of accreditation of foreign credentials Improve systems of accreditation of foreign credentials • •Improve access to information for qualified migrants upon arriva Improve access to information for qualified migrants upon arrival l • •Facilitate access to Facilitate access to reskilling reskilling opportunities opportunities • 11
Panel Discussion March 9th 2011 “Deskilling of qualified migrant w omen: implications and solutions” Blandine Mollard Project Officer Gender Coordination Unit International Organization for Migration Thank you
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