An unstable equilibrium: the Italian immigrants’ inclusion model facing the pandemic crisis test

Titolo Rivista SOCIOLOGIA DEL LAVORO
Autori/Curatori Camilla Borgna, Violetta Tucci
Anno di pubblicazione 2023 Fascicolo 2023/166 Lingua Inglese
Numero pagine 28 P. 155-182 Dimensione file 644 KB
DOI 10.3280/SL2023-166007
Il DOI è il codice a barre della proprietà intellettuale: per saperne di più clicca qui

Qui sotto puoi vedere in anteprima la prima pagina di questo articolo.

Se questo articolo ti interessa, lo puoi acquistare (e scaricare in formato pdf) seguendo le facili indicazioni per acquistare il download credit. Acquista Download Credits per scaricare questo Articolo in formato PDF

Anteprima articolo

FrancoAngeli è membro della Publishers International Linking Association, Inc (PILA)associazione indipendente e non profit per facilitare (attraverso i servizi tecnologici implementati da CrossRef.org) l’accesso degli studiosi ai contenuti digitali nelle pubblicazioni professionali e scientifiche

The Italian immigrants’ inclusion model has been described as a "low unemployment, bad jobs" equilibrium: immigrants have relatively high employment rates but tend to be segregated in low-quality jobs. However, as these jobs are also unstable, so is the equilibrium: during periods of recession, immigrants may face higher risks of labor-market exclusion. This paper investigates immigrant penalties in terms of employment probabilities, job loss, labor-market (re)entry, and job quality throughout the first year of COVID-19 crisis, by analyzing data from the 2019 and 2020 ISTAT Labor Force Survey. We find that the pandemic crisis accelerated an already ongoing erosion of immigrants’ relative employment advantage, while at the same time increasing their segregation in low-quality jobs. The deterioration of immigrants’ employment chances is chiefly driven by increased barriers in (re)entering the labor market which, especially for women, might be due to self-selection into inactivity. These findings suggest that the structural factors that have historically facilitated the activation of immigrant workers might have become factors of instability.

Keywords:immigrant workers, COVID-19, job-loss, labor-market

  1. Ballarino G., Panichella N. (2018). The occupational integration of migrant women in Western European labour markets. Acta Sociologica, 61(2): 126-142. DOI: 10.1177/000169931772344
  2. Ambrosini M. (2011). Sociologia delle migrazioni. Bologna: Il Mulino.
  3. Ambrosini M., Panichella N. (2016). Immigrazione, occupazione e crisi economica in Italia. Quaderni di Sociologia, 72: 115-134.
  4. Auer D. (2022). Firing discrimination: Selection labor market responses of firms during the COVID-19 economic crisis. Plos one, 17: e0262337
  5. Avola M. (2015). The Ethnic Penalty in the Italian Labour Market: A Comparison between the Centre-North and South. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 41(11): 1746-1768. DOI: 10.1080/1369183X.2014.97384
  6. Avola M. (2018). Lavoro immigrato e dualismo territoriale nell’Italia della decrescita: struttura della domanda e mutamenti dell'offerta. Stato e mercato, 38(2): 331-362. DOI: 10.1425/9096
  7. Ballarino G., Panichella N. (2015). The occupational integration of male migrants in Western European countries: assimilation or persistent disadvantage?. International Migration, 53(2): 338-352.
  8. Bank of Italy (2020). L’economia delle regioni italiane. Dinamiche recenti e aspetti strutturali. Economie Regionali, 22: 5-101.
  9. Barbieri P., Scherer S. (2009). Labour market flexibilization and its consequences in Italy. European Sociological Review, 25(6), 677-692.
  10. Borjas G.J. (2001). Does Immigration Grease the Wheels of the Labor Marker?. Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, 1: 69-133.
  11. Borjas G.J., Cassidy C. (2020). The Adverse Effect of the COVID-19 Labor Market Shock on Immigrant Employment. NBER Working Paper, No. 27243.
  12. Cassidy H. (2022). The labor market impact of Covid-19 on immigrants. IZA World of Labor, No. 489.
  13. Cesareo V. (Eds.) (2022). XXVI Rapporto sulle migrazioni 2021, Milan: Fondazione ISMU.
  14. Dal Zotto E., Lo Cascio M., Piro V. (2021). The Emergency Management of Migration and Agricultural Workforce during the Pandemic. The Contradictory Outcomes of the 2020 Amnesty Law. In: Della Puppa F. and Sanò G., Eds., Stuck and Exploited. Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Italy between Exclusion, Discrimination and Struggles. Venice: Edizioni Ca’ Foscari.
  15. Davies R., Elias P. (2010). The application of ESeC to three sources of comparative European data. In: Rose D. and Harrison E., Eds., Social Class in Europe: An Introduction to the European Socio-Economic Classification. London: Routledge.
  16. Del Boca D., Oggero N., Profeta P., Rossi M. (2020). Women’s and men’s work, housework and childcare, before and during COVID-19. Review of Economics of the Household, 18: 1001-1017.
  17. Dustmann C., Glitz A, Vogel T. (2010). Employment, wages, and the economic cycle: Differences between immigrants and natives, European Economic Review, 54(1): 1-17.
  18. EMN/OECD (2020). EU and OECD Member States responses to managing residence permits and migrant unemployment during the COVID-19 pandemic - EMN-OECD inform. Brussels: European Migration Network.
  19. Eurostat (2022). Labour market in the light of the COVID 19 pandemic - quarterly statistics. -- Text available at: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Labour_market_in_the_light_of_the_COVID_19_pandemic_-_quarterly_statistics.
  20. Fasani F., Mazza J. (2020a). A Vulnerable Workforce: Migrant Workers in the COVID-19 Pandemic. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.
  21. Fasani F., Mazza J. (2020b). Immigrant Key Workers: Their Contribution to Europe’s COVID-19 Response. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.
  22. Fasani F., Mazza J. (2020c). Being on the Frontline? Immigrant Workers in Europe and the COVID-19 Pandemic, IZA DP Series No. 1396.
  23. Fellini I. (2015). Una «via bassa» alla decrescita dell'occupazione: il mercato del lavoro italiano tra crisi e debolezze strutturali. Stato e mercato, 35(3): 469-508. DOI: 10.1425/8160
  24. Fellini I. (2018). Immigrants’ labour market outcomes in Italy and Spain: Has the Southern European model disrupted during the crisis?. Migration Studies, 6(1): 53-78.
  25. Ferrera M. (1996). The ‘Southern model’ of welfare in social Europe. Journal of European social policy, 6(1): 17-37. DOI: 10.1177/09589287960060010
  26. Fiaschi D., Tealdi C. (2022). Scarring Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Italian Labour Market. IZA Discussion Paper Series, No. 15102.
  27. Frattini T., Bertino P. (2023). 7th Migration Observatory Report: «Immigrant Integration in Europe». Milan: Centro Studi Luca d’Agliano.
  28. Frattini T., Sartori T. (2021). 5th Migration Observatory Report: «Immigrant Integration in Europe». Milan: Centro Studi Luca d’Agliano.
  29. Fullin G., Reyneri E. (2011). Low Unemployment and Bad Jobs for New Immigrants in Italy. International Migration, 49(1): 118-147.
  30. Goedemé T., Paskove M., Nolan B. (2021). The measurement of social class in EU-SILC: compatibility between countries and consistency over time. In: Guio A.C., Marlier E. and Nolan B., Eds., Improving the understanding of poverty and social exclusion in Europe. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.
  31. Guadagno L. (2020). Migrants and the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Initial Analysis. IOM Migration Research Series, No. 60.
  32. INAIL (2020). Documento tecnico sulla possibile rimodulazione delle misure di contenimento del contagio da SARS-CoV-2 nei luoghi di lavoro. -- Text available at: https://www.inail.it/cs/internet/comunicazione/pubblicazioni/catalogo-generale/pubbl-rimodulazione-contenimento-covid19-sicurezza-lavoro.html.
  33. INPS (2020). Settori essenziali vs settori bloccati per la crisi pandemica: un’analisi dei rapporti di lavoro Uniemens. Text available at: https://www.inps.it/nuovoportaleinps/default.aspx?itemdir=53804.
  34. ISTAT (2019). Le differenze territoriali di benessere. Una lettura a livello provinciale. Rome: ISTAT.
  35. ISTAT (2022). Report cittadini non comunitari in Italia. Anni 2021-2022. -- Text available at: https://www.istat.it/it/files//2022/10/Report-cittadini-non-comunitari-2022.pdf.
  36. Jessoula M., Pavolini E., Raitano M., Natili M. (2021). Social protection and inclusion policy responses to the COVID-19 crisis. European Social Policy Network report. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union
  37. Kanas, A., Steinmetz, S. (2021). Mind the gap: The role of family policies and the gender-egalitarian climate in shaping gender and ethnic labour market inequalities in Europe. Migration Studies, 9(4): 1569-1589.
  38. Kogan I. (2006). Labor markets and economic incorporation among recent immigrants in Europe. Social Forces, 85(2): 697-721.
  39. Kogan I. (2007). Working through barriers. Dordrecht: Springer.
  40. Mazza J., Scipioni M., Tintori M. (2022). The Labour Market Consequences of COVID-19 for Migrant Workers. JRC Technical Report. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.
  41. Ministry of Labour and Social Policy (2021a). XI Rapporto annuale. Gli stranieri nel mercato del lavoro in Italia. Text available at: https://www.integrazionemigranti.gov.it/AnteprimaPDF.aspx?id=2877.
  42. Ministry of Labour and Social Policy (2021b). Rapporto Annuale sulle Comunicazioni Obbligatorie 2021. Rome: Office of Statistics.
  43. Motellón E., López-Bazo E. (2015). Job Loss Among Immigrant and Native Workers: Evidence from Spain’s Economic Downturn. Social Indicators Research, 120: 345-371.
  44. Musso G. (2021). Reddito di Emergenza vs Reddito di Cittadinanza: cosa dicono i dati. -- Text available at: https://osservatoriocpi.unicatt.it/cpi-archivio-studi-e-analisi-reddito-di-emergenza-vs-reddito-di-cittadinanza-cosa-dicono-i-dati.
  45. Naldini M., Adamson E., Hamilton M. (2022). Migrant families’ access to ECEC and family policies: the Australian and Italian case. Frontiers in Sociology, 7: 1-28.
  46. Panichella N. (2018). Economic crisis and occupational integration of recent immigrants in Western Europe, International Sociology, 33(1): 64-85. DOI: 10.1177/026858091774200
  47. Ponzo I., Finotelli C., Malheiros J., Fonseca M.L., Salis E. (2015). Is the economic crisis in Southern Europe turning into a migrant integration crisis?. Social Policies, 2(1): 59-88. DOI: 10.7389/79535
  48. Quaranta R., Trentini F., Villosio C. (2021). Gli effetti del COVID-19 sulla popolazione in età da lavoro straniera in Italia. Mondi Migranti, 1: 61-83. DOI: 10.3280/MM2021-00100
  49. Reyneri E. (1998). The role of the underground economy in irregular migration to Italy: cause or effect?. Journal of ethnic and migration studies, 24(2): 313-331. DOI: 10.1080/1369183X.1998.997663
  50. Reyneri E. (2010). L'impatto della crisi sull'inserimento degli immigrati nel mercato del lavoro dell'Italia e degli altri paesi dell'Europa meridionale. PRISMA Economia - Società - Lavoro, 2010(2): 17-33. DOI: 10.3280/PRI2010-00200
  51. Reyneri E., Fullin G. (2011). Labour market penalties of new immigrants in new and old receiving West European countries, International Migration, 49(1): 31-57.
  52. Rose D., Harrison E. (2010). Social Class in Europe: An Introduction to the European Socio-Economic Classification. London: Routledge.
  53. Santagati M. (2022) La scuola. In: Cesareo V., Ed., XXVI Rapporto sulle migrazioni 2021. Milan: Fondazione ISMU.
  54. Strøm S., Piazzalunga D., Venturini A., Villosio C. (2018). Wage assimilation of immigrants and internal migrants: the role of linguistic distance. Regional studies, 52(10): 1423-1434. DOI: 10.1080/00343404.2017.139500
  55. Veneto Lavoro (2020). Emergenza Covid-19. L’impatto sul lavoro dipendente in Veneto (1gennaio-31 luglio 2020). Osservatorio Mercato del Lavoro Misure, No. 99.
  56. Venturini A., Villosio C. (2018). Are migrants an asset in recession? Insights from Italy. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 44(14): 2340-2357. DOI: 10.1080/1369183X.2017.134599
  57. Zanfrini L. (2022). Il lavoro. In: Cesareo V., Ed., XXVI Rapporto sulle migrazioni 2021. Milan: Fondazione ISMU.
  58. Zanfrini L. (2022). From slaves to key workers? How the Covid-19 pandemic questions the sustainability of the Italian model of migrants’ integration. Rassegna Italiana di Sociologia, 1: 1-27. DOI: 10.1423/10332

Camilla Borgna, Violetta Tucci, An unstable equilibrium: the Italian immigrants’ inclusion model facing the pandemic crisis test in "SOCIOLOGIA DEL LAVORO " 166/2023, pp 155-182, DOI: 10.3280/SL2023-166007