Arbete för alla? : En intervjustudie om hur tre professioner inom introduktionsprogrammet i Falköpings kommun ser på strukturella hinder och möjligheter för invandrares tillträde till den svenska arbetsmarknaden

Örebro University The Department Behavioural, Social, and Legal Sciences Education of social work C-essay 41-60 p Abstract Title: Work for everyone? An interview study of how three professions within the introduction programme in the local-government in Falköping looks at structural obstacles and discrimination in immigrants’ access to the Swedish labour market. Authors: Emma Gustavsson and Sandra Tjärnberg Tutor: Rúna Baianstovu Deniz and Urban Karlsson Today many immigrants stand outside the labour market. To get established on the labour market and to get self-sufficient are important factors to a rapid integration process. The main purpose of this study is to investigate how three professions within the integration work in the local-government of Falköping looks at structural obstacles and possibilities with immigrants’ access to the Swedish labour market. The main questions treated are: which structural obstacles or possibilities there are to be identified in the local work with integration and in which way the obstacles and possibilities affects the immigrants’ opportunities to obtain employment and there by be integrated in the society. By a qualitative interview study, three professions’ view on structural obstacles and possibilities for immigrants’ access to the Swedish labour market were investigated by interviews with employees within the introduction programme in Falköping. The study is based on earlier research; discrimination, the concept of marginality and local and national guidelines. The respondents point out that structural obstacles and possibilities in the establishment on the labour market exists. It expresses through discriminating behaviour such as negative attitudes and prejudice. Obstacles and possibilities that are highlighted in this study are within language, contacts and evaluation of immigrants’ earlier work experience and education. Methods that are used to minimise difficulties in immigrants’ establishment on the labour market are meritportfölj, yrkesbedömning, validering and personliga utvecklingstjänster. The time of introduction is another obstacle that is pointed out and affects the opportunities for the immigrants to get established on the Swedish labour market and may have affect on the individuals’ position in the society from the process of marginalization. Keywords: integration, immigration, immigrant, structural obstacles, discrimination, self-sufficiency, introductio