How do refugees use their social capital for successful labor market integration? An exploratory analysis in Germany
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In: Journal of Vocational Behavior, Vol. 105, 01.04.2018, p. 46-61.
Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - How do refugees use their social capital for successful labor market integration?
T2 - An exploratory analysis in Germany
AU - Gericke, Dina
AU - Burmeister, Anne
AU - Löwe, Jill
AU - Deller, Jürgen
AU - Pundt, Leena
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2017 Elsevier Inc.
PY - 2018/4/1
Y1 - 2018/4/1
N2 - Using Germany as an example, this qualitative study explores how refugees use their social capital within and outside organizations to enter their host countries' labor market. Following a grounded theory approach, we interviewed 36 Syrian refugees who had already secured employment in Germany. We aim to provide in-depth information regarding the available types, uses, and benefits of social capital with regard to their access and integration into the labor market. We found that refugees have access to different types of social capital and that these types can offer different forms of support to refugees during the labor market integration process. In addition, we identify subtle differences in the kinds of support offered through vertical and horizontal bonding and bridging social capital. More specifically, we found that vertical bridging social capital is a valuable source for securing adequate employment, whereas horizontal bonding social capital and independent job-searching methods may more often lead to low-skilled work or underemployment. Our findings provide new insights into how different forms of social capital can facilitate labor market integration of refugees at different stages.
AB - Using Germany as an example, this qualitative study explores how refugees use their social capital within and outside organizations to enter their host countries' labor market. Following a grounded theory approach, we interviewed 36 Syrian refugees who had already secured employment in Germany. We aim to provide in-depth information regarding the available types, uses, and benefits of social capital with regard to their access and integration into the labor market. We found that refugees have access to different types of social capital and that these types can offer different forms of support to refugees during the labor market integration process. In addition, we identify subtle differences in the kinds of support offered through vertical and horizontal bonding and bridging social capital. More specifically, we found that vertical bridging social capital is a valuable source for securing adequate employment, whereas horizontal bonding social capital and independent job-searching methods may more often lead to low-skilled work or underemployment. Our findings provide new insights into how different forms of social capital can facilitate labor market integration of refugees at different stages.
KW - Psychology
KW - Bonding social capital
KW - Bridging social capital
KW - Labor-market integration
KW - Refugees
KW - Refugees' vocational behavior
KW - Social capital theory
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85037722077&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jvb.2017.12.002
DO - 10.1016/j.jvb.2017.12.002
M3 - Journal articles
VL - 105
SP - 46
EP - 61
JO - Journal of Vocational Behavior
JF - Journal of Vocational Behavior
SN - 0001-8791
ER -