The Gender Gap in Immigration to Switzerland: Evidence from the MMS and Theoretical Insights

Abstract

When people migrate to Switzerland, their experiences are far from equal. Data from the Migration-Mobility Survey (MMS) show that women are far less likely than men to arrive in the country already employed and are more often moving for family reasons rather than career opportunities. These differences do not disappear after arrival; they shape women’s professional trajectories for years, showing a persistent gender gap in migration that affects both individual lives and the broader Swiss labor market.

Keywords: brain waste, family reunification, gender gap, labor market, migrant women