Between residential and economic settlement
Internal migration and employment of asylum migrants in Belgium
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 24226257 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Natacha Zimmer (0000-0002-8501-0333, Centre for Demographic Research – Université Catholique de Louvain) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-23 |
| Publication date | 2026-07-07 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | New Community (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0047-9586 • E-ISSN: 1469-9451 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/1369183x.2026.2698320 |
| OpenAlex | W7167618717 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 33 |
Reception and integration of asylum migrants remain central challenges for receiving countries, as early settlement experiences are notably shaped by reception policies. Still, existing research on the economic integration of asylum migrants focuses on recognised refugees and initial residence contexts while rarely accounting for internal migration. Using longitudinal register data, we examine how the type of initial accommodation and local economic context, as well as residential (im)mobility, are associated with the economic insertion of asylum seekers who arrived in Belgium in 2012-2016. Cox proportional hazards models are applied to assess the relationship between initial reception conditions, residential moves, and the timing of first job entry, both during and after the asylum procedures. Initially residing in state-provided accommodations is positively associated with economic insertion. Yet, the period following exit from these facilities and the end of asylum procedures constitutes a critical phase when the hazards of entering employment are highest. Internal mobility, particularly moves to economically stronger districts, is generally linked to faster job entry, suggesting a mismatch between the locations of reception accommodations and areas conducive to economic insertion. Findings highlight the need for early support, shorter asylum procedures, and a reassessment of the spatial distribution of reception accommodations.
asylum procedure · asylum reception · asylum seekers · Belgium · Economic integration · Employment · Internal migration · job entry · Residential mobility · Spatial mismatch · Migration and Labor Dynamics · Migration, Ethnicity, and Economy · Migration, Refugees, and Integration
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| Highly cited | No |
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