Swimming upstream-An exploration of the employment journey of immigrant women in Sweden

This qualitative study explores the main factors influencing the employability of immigrant women in the Swedish labor market. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews of 12 employed and unemployed immigrant women in Växjö were conducted. Prominent themes were identified in the empirical data and an inductive, bottom-up approach was applied to analyze and conceptualize the findings. Results of the study indicate the significance of human and social capital such as language, education, skills, motivation, social networks and contacts, in the employment journey of immigrant women in Sweden. Two vicious cycles, along with the strategies used to break out of them, were identified. Patterns such as differences and similarities in the perceptions of employed and unemployed women are also highlighted.