The impact of migration policy on the labour market performance of migrants: A comparative case study

This article investigates the impact of migration policy on the labour market performance of migrants in Sweden and Switzerland. It concentrates on the income and employment of groups of foreign residents relative to natives and looks at socio‐demographic characteristics and educational policies. In so far as declared goals are concerned, the Swedish and the Swiss migration policies reflect opposite approaches. From its aims and instruments, the Swiss policy has been economically oriented, considering migrants as merely temporary guests. The Swiss policy lacked any explicit integration policy. The Swedish policy has emphasised humanitarian and political aspects, rejecting migration for economic labour market reasons and aiming at the long‐term integration of foreigners once admitted to the country.