Support for the Settlement of Migrants in Switzerland Matters

The Migration-Mobility Survey allows us to explore the experiences of new migrants settling in Switzerland. This survey includes questions about the assistance they received upon their initial period of arrival. One of the key advantages of the data is that it allows one to distinguish between the role of personal connections and the actual support they received. Interestingly, the results suggest that these personal connections play a greater role in alleviating settlement challenges than the initial help they received.

In the Migration-Mobility Survey, participants were asked whether they received support when they arrived in the country and from whom. The possibilities of support could come from a relative, an employer, a colleague, a private or a public institution, or others. Participants also provided contextual information about their network, such as the presence of friends in the country and the nationality of their partner and friends.

The information provided allowed us to explore the role the support the migrants received played when having to face different difficulties, but also to understand the composition of their networks as well as other socio-demographic aspects. Among the aspects studied, three models of integration are highlighted: structural integration, social integration, and identity integration (Heckmann and Schnapper, 2003).

For the sake of this blog post, we will focus on structural integration seen in difficulties with housing, childcare, administrative matters, finding a job for the partner, and moving to the country. We will also highlight identity integration, which relates to adaptation difficulties, homesickness, belonging, and acceptance by the native population.

Initial Support Equals Fewer Difficulties in Settlement

The analysis shows that the support received at the beginning, such as that received from the migrant’s network, is associated with fewer difficulties at arrival. But above all, support from the employer and relatives reduces most of the difficulties. The former is a sign that migration to the country for work also helps with settlement. From the first results, it seems that social support and the social network do indeed have their own respective effects.

We found that having different sources of support generally reduces the likelihood of migrants facing challenges, except when it comes to childcare. Also, interestingly, the more support migrants got from their employers during their first settlement, the harder it was for their partners to find jobs.

The type of support matters: Migrants who received more help from their relatives when they first arrived in Switzerland tended to under-utilize their skills, felt more homesick and faced adjustment problems. This suggests that relying heavily on family may mean that fewer other resources are available. Having Swiss friends or a partner alleviates these difficulties. On the other hand, more support from private institutions is associated with challenges in childcare, and support from public institutions is associated with problems in finding work for partners. This shows that more support is not always better – it may even indicate the opposite.

Support is Essential for Integration

Once in Switzerland, specific support can help migrants, regardless of the origin, to settle in. A diverse support network helps them adapt and integrate better. Formal support seems to play a greater role in this integration, than personal support. Links to both Swiss nationals and people from their country of origin can promote integration.

Support does influence how migrants integrate into Switzerland, but it is a complex picture. Sometimes, more support may indicate more challenges, rather than smoother integration. Although these challenges may be tempered by having supportive relatives in Switzerland. Both the support system and the personal ties have a clear impact. The Migration-Mobility survey allows us to distinguish between the influence of personal ties and direct support on migrants’ integration. It is one of the many interesting aspects of this survey to explore further.

Vestin Hategekimana is a Doctoral researcher at the nccr – on the move and the University of Geneva. He is part of the project « The Longitudinal Impact of Crises on Economic, Social, and Mobility-Related Outcomes: The Role of Gender, Skills, and Migration Status » with a focus on the mobility outcomes.

Reference:
-Heckmann, F., & Schnapper, D. (Éds.). (2003). The Integration of Immigrants in European Societies : National Differences and Trends of Convergence. De Gruyter.