Surveying the Landscape of Labor Market Threat Perceptions from Migration: Evidence from Attitudes toward Sub-Saharan African Migrants in Morocco

Abstract

Morocco, once primarily known as a country of emigration and transit to Europe, has become a destination country for migrants, the majority of whom are from sub-Saharan Africa. Using an original nationally representative survey of 2,700 respondents, together with data from two census waves and one migrant regularization wave, the authors examine Moroccan citizens’ labor market threat perceptions from this new migrant group. Consistent with findings from studies conducted in developed countries, less educated, poorer respondents express higher labor market threat perceptions. The authors also find evidence, however, that city dwellers and employed female Moroccans are the most likely to report threat perceptions, even after controlling for greater “exposure” to migrants. The article contributes to literatures on migration exposure and how rural–urban dynamics shape labor market threat perceptions in a developing country.

Introduction to a Special Issue on Labor in the Middle East and North Africa: Precarity, Inequality, and Migration

“…They also find evidence that city-dwellers and employed female Moroccans are the most likely to report threat perceptions. Buehler et al (2023) illustrate the value of original research on host populations’ labor market threat perceptions toward migrant workers outside the OECD.…”

“…Matt Buehler, Kristin Fabbe, and Eleni Kyrkopoulou (2023) approach the issue of migration from another perspective, looking instead at host population perceptions of labor market threats from migrant workers. This area of research remains underexplored in North Africa, especially in Morocco, which “has become a destination country for migrants, the majority of whom are from sub-Saharan Africa” (Buehler et al 2023: 748). Using an original nationally representative survey of 2,700 respondents, the authors find that educated Moroccans are less likely to perceive threats regarding job competition, reduction of wages, or skill level.…”