Gendered Migration and Female Migrants' Labour Market Integration: Pathways to Gender-Responsive Policies

About the seminar

“The Impact of Gendered Migration Cycles on the Labour Market Integration of Female Mi-grants in European Welfare States – Developing Pathways towards Gender-responsive Policies” – An International Knowledge Exchange

Over the past decade, migration has increasingly become feminised, revealing a highly gendered migration cycle and a global gender gap. Gender disparities are evident in migration patterns across European countries, particularly concerning social policies and welfare systems. As of April 2024, around 68.5% of asylum seekers in Germany were men, with male applicants significantly outnumbering females. However, the gender distribution varies by origin; for example, 70% of Ukrainian refugees are women, often accompanied by children, while the share of Afghan women asylum seekers has dropped sharply. Female migrants typically face more challenges than their male counterparts, both during migration and upon arrival. They often encounter barriers to employment, and access to welfare, and are more vulnerable to exploitative working conditions. Traditional gender roles and structural barriers, such as workplace discrimination and limited educational opportunities, further complicate their integration. Data shows that male migrants tend to integrate into the labour market more quickly and access welfare benefits sooner than women, who may only do so many years after migration. Understanding the interaction between gender and migration is crucial for creating a more inclusive labour market and welfare policies. This seminar explores the gendered aspects of labour market integration and segregation in female migrant employment and entrepreneurship. Additionally, it examines the role of recruitment mechanisms and their impact on the labour market integration of female migrants. The goal is to develop a comparative perspective on the interplay between gender, migration, and welfare systems to inform more gender-responsive policies. Over the past decade, migration has increasingly become feminised, revealing a highly gendered migration cycle and a global gender gap. Gender disparities are evident in migration patterns across European countries, particularly concerning social policies and welfare systems. As of April 2024, around 68.5% of asylum seekers in Germany were men, with male applicants significantly outnumbering females. However, the gender distribution varies by origin; for example, 70% of Ukrainian refugees are women, often accompanied by children, while the share of Afghan women asylum seekers has dropped sharply. Female migrants typically face more challenges than their male counterparts, both during migration and upon arrival. They often encounter barriers to employment, and access to welfare, and are more vulnerable to exploitative working conditions. Traditional gender roles and structural barriers, such as workplace discrimination and limited educational opportunities, further complicate their integration. Data shows that male migrants tend to integrate into the labour market more quickly and access welfare benefits sooner than women, who may only do so many years after migration. Understanding the interaction between gender and migration is crucial for creating a more inclusive labour market and welfare policies. This seminar explores the gendered aspects of labour market integration and segregation in female migrant employment and entrepreneurship. Additionally, it examines the role of recruitment mechanisms and their impact on the labour market integration of female migrants. The goal is to develop a comparative perspective on the interplay between gender, migration, and welfare systems to inform more gender-responsive policies.