Solving the integration challenge of high-skilled migrants: the central role of merits

This interdisciplinary study aims to explore with mixed methods, the knowledge gap on the topic of integration of high-skilled labor migrants (HSMs) in Sweden, because HSMs attraction and retention are a necessity for Sweden’s economic prosperity. The project questions the idea of "meritocratic integration," which assumes that HSMs easily integrate thanks to their professional merits. We argue that two paradoxes challenge this assumption. The "skill paradox": HSMs are underemployed compared to native counterparts, potentially due to organizations' difficulty in recognizing their professional merits. The "integration paradox" shows HSMs' struggles in feeling included. This may be attributed to the lack of recognition in the public opinion of their participation to society at large. We contend that merits are at the core of these paradoxes. In light of these paradoxes, the objective of this study is to understand how HSMs' merits are defined and valued for their integration. Guided by Lamont’s recognition theory, three work packages investigate public attitudes, organizational practices, and HSMs' perspectives on merits and their link to integration.

This study utilizes diverse data sources such as public opinion surveys, organizational recruitment data, and qualitative interviews with HSMs, to show how both professional and integration merits are the cornerstone of HSMs’ integration. We contribute to both management and sociological literature on migration and integration.

Funding:
This project is funded by Riksbankens Jubileumsfond during 2025-2027.

Researchers:
Prof. Laurence Romani (project leader)
Prof. Andrea Voyer
Dr Paolo Velásquez