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Highly Educated Migrants in Norway: Identity and Well-Being During Delayed Workforce Entry-A Qualitative Study
Siv Karin Eriksen1, Khadra Yasien Ahmed1, Esperanza Diaz1
1Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, 5007 Bergen, Norway.
Summary
Highly educated migrants face integration challenges in Norway. Early access to relevant work, not just language training, is crucial for their professional identity, well-being, and social inclusion.
Area of Science:
- Sociology of Migration
- Public Health
- Labor Economics
Background:
- Highly educated migrants in Norway often face significant delays in finding employment aligned with their qualifications.
- Many engage in compulsory education, language training, or non-professional jobs during this transition period.
- The study investigates the impact of the introductory program and non-professional work on migrant health, identity, and integration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore how the introductory program and work outside professional fields influence the health, identity, and integration of highly educated migrants.
- To understand the lived experiences of highly educated migrants navigating the Norwegian introductory program.
- To identify barriers and facilitators to successful professional integration.
Main Methods:
- Exploratory qualitative study utilizing semi-structured interviews.
- Eight highly educated migrants enrolled in Norway's introductory program were interviewed.
- Data analysis employed reflexive thematic analysis, guided by Social Identity Theory.
Main Results:
- Employment, especially in former professions, is vital for participants' self-esteem, sense of meaning, and social belonging.
- Prolonged credential recognition issues and limited social contact led to stagnation, exclusion, and weakened professional identity.
- The introductory program provided peer support and language learning but not direct professional integration.
Conclusions:
- Streamlining credential recognition and expanding early, relevant work-based integration opportunities are recommended for policymakers.
- Work-based integration can enhance well-being, language acquisition, and social inclusion for highly educated migrants.
- Prioritizing these measures can improve health and integration outcomes, supporting identity reconstruction and social belonging.
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