How policies select immigrants: The role of the recognition of foreign qualifications

Abstract

Although immigrants’ settlement and integration into the labour market are subject to a number of regulations, previous research has primarily investigated the role of admission policies in selecting immigrants. There are other policies, however – such as the recognition of foreign qualifications – that fulfil a similar role, although these policies are largely overlooked in the literature. This study explores the way these policies select among wanted and unwanted highly skilled immigrants, subsequently facilitating or hindering their integration into jobs matched to their level and type of qualifications. This article draws on semi-structured interviews with highly skilled Romanian immigrants with various professional qualifications and focuses on their experiences with recognition processes in Germany over the last decade, highlighting the procedures’ effects on individuals’ upward or downward employment trajectories.

Populations in Crisis: Migration Plans and Determinants Among Medical Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…The migratory route of physicians highly depends on their specialties (Holmes and Fraher, 2017), as the more specialized medics prefer stronger economies (Ricketts, 2010). Furthermore, the policies of the receiving countries (Andriescu, 2018;Ribeiro, 2018), such as tax cuts for immigrants and pathways to permanent residency, are crucial in attracting a highly skilled labor force (Adovor et al, 2021).…”

Social construction of skill: an analytical approach toward the question of skill in cross-border labour mobilities

“…An expanding roster of actorsnational and local governments (Andriescu 2018), employers, migration entrepreneurs and brokers (Ortiga 2018), professional associations (Bauder 2003), media and non-governmental organisations (Ribeiro 2018)play crucial roles in not only shaping the skills of migrants but also deciding what constitutes skill and who are skilled migrants. This special issue examines the traditional arbitratorsthe government, the employer and the migration entrepreneursas well as emerging actors in the globalising labour market.…”

How Official Language and Country of Origin Impacts Health Workforce Integration in Canada

“…28 Credential recognition policies which promote a good match between individual qualifications and experience with the needed skills in host countries. 2 Cultural adaptation is a multi-stage process requiring the involvement of the individual immigrant and host country service providers. 39 The importance of providing adaptation programs to improve retention of IENs to minimize struggles during the settlement period needs recognition.…”

“…Cross border movement of all types of health professionals will continue to address labour shortages. 2 Under-utilization of valuable skills will result if more effort is not directed towards promoting successful integration of IENs. 5,26 Systematic workforce planning which focuses on accurate assessments of professional skills and requisite learning needs post-migration is essential for immigrant economic integration as well as benefitting host countries.…”

“…Systemic barriers include difficulties with foreign credential recognition, meeting language requirements, passing licensing examinations and lack of finances. 2,3 Consequently, the failure to gain entry into the workforce in order to use premigration professional experience and credentials often leads to the lack of economic integration. 4 IENs in Canada, with a cultural heritage or ethnicity markedly different from English speaking countries, have experienced greater integration challenges.…”