Assessing discrimination against immigrants: lessons from Spain

This article assesses the context of reception for immigrants in Spain, examining various forms of discrimination over time. Firstly, it explores institutional discrimination, identifying those government policies that benefit some immigrants over others according to their nationality. Secondly, it analyses structural discrimination by exploring the differentiated labour market incorporation of immigrants, using indicators such as the concentration in less prestigious occupations, unemployment rate amongst immigrants, proportion in temporary employment and amount of accidents. Thirdly, it studies individual discrimination by comparing different approaches to measuring xenophobia based on opinion surveys. With the help of secondary data and by using this classification it is possible to identify some sources –although not necessarily the causes- of discrimination against immigrants. Findings show that immigration laws in Spain promote an institutional discriminatory framework; immigrants are more likely to be employed in jobs that are ‘dirty, difficult, dangerous ’ and also less prestigious; while the increase of anti-immigrant sentiment is not so much due to the number of immigrants or the level of unemployment, as perhaps to public discourse, reflected and driven by the media. Key words: immigrants, institutional discrimination, structural discrimination