No. 2026-02 - The intergenerational social mobility of migrants in 22 European countries

Abstract:

The relationship between international migration and social mobility has been a central topic in recent research, with scholars highlighting the influence of socioeconomic resources, aspirational attitudes, and structural barriers on the social mobility experience of migrants. This study extends existing work and examines the intergenerational social mobility of first- and second-generation immigrants in 22 European countries. Using fully harmonized and nationally representative data (EU-SILC, 2019), we provide a comparative analysis of absolute mobility in terms of social class and economic hardship. Our results show that mobility patterns differ across dimensions and generations: First-generation migrants generally experience more downward mobility than upward mobility, whereas for the second generation upward mobility is more prevalent in some countries. The first generation is also more likely to experience downward class mobility compared to natives, while chances of upward hardship mobility are higher on average despite cross-country variation. Migrant-native gaps in class and hardship mobility are smaller for the second generation. Differences in own and parental education between natives and migrants cannot fully account for observed gaps, suggesting the relevance of other factors in driving persistent inequalities in opportunities for social mobility.