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Migration, Ethnicity and Progression from Low-Paid Work: Implications for Skills Policy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 November 2014

Gina Netto ,
Maria Hudson ,
Mike Noon ,
Filip Sosenko ,
Philomena de Lima  and
Nicolina Kamenou-Aigbekaen
Gina Netto
Affiliation:
Institute of Social Policy, Housing, Environment and Real Estate (I-SPHERE), Heriot Watt University E-mail: g.netto@hw.ac.uk
Maria Hudson
Affiliation:
Hudson Research E-mail: maria@hudson-research.co.uk
Mike Noon
Affiliation:
School of Business and Management, Queen Mary University of London E-mail: m.a.noon@qmul.ac.uk
Filip Sosenko
Affiliation:
Institute of Social Policy, Housing, Environment and Real Estate (I-SPHERE), Heriot Watt University E-mail: f.sosenko@hw.ac.uk
Philomena de Lima
Affiliation:
Centre for Remote and Rural Studies, University of the Highlands and Islands – Inverness College E-mail: Philomena.deLima.ic@uhi.ac.uk
Nicolina Kamenou-Aigbekaen
Affiliation:
School of Management and Languages, Heriot Watt University E-mail: n.kamenou-aigbekaen@hw.ac.uk
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Abstract

Migration plays an important role in determining skills supply, and certain ethnic groups tend to be over-represented in low-paid work. This article considers the implications of the complex interplay of migration, ethnicity and workplace progression for skills policy by comparing and contrasting the opportunities faced by low-paid workers of diverse ethnicities in progressing to better paid work. This is done by drawing on a qualitative study of nine case study organisations in Scotland and England, including interviews with sixty-five workers and forty-three managers. We argue that while all low-paid workers face formidable barriers to progression, recent migrants and settled ethnic minorities face additional challenges that should be considered in skills and wider social policies related to low-paid work.

Keywords

Migrationethnicityprogressionlow-paid workskills policy
Type
Articles
Information
Social Policy and Society , Volume 14 , Issue 4 , October 2015 , pp. 509 - 522
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

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