Skillnader i arbetslöshet mellan inrikes och utrikes födda i Sverige 2021 : en kvantitativ forskningsansats

Sammanfattning

This study examines differences in unemployment between native-born and foreign-born individuals in Sweden in 2021. The aim is to investigate whether unemployment differs between these groups and whether such differences remain when gender, age and educational level are taken into account. This study is based on secondary data from the European Social Survey, Round 10, and uses a quantitative research design. The analytical sample consists of individuals aged 19-65 who are either employed or unemployed and actively seeking work. Binary logistic regression is used to analyse the association between country of birth and unemployment. The results show that foreign-born individuals have significantly higher odds of being unemployed than native-born individuals. In the model without control variables, foreign-born individuals have approximately 4.1 times higher odds of unemployment compared to native-born individuals. This difference remains statistically significant in the final model, where gender, age and educational level are controlled for. In this model, foreign-born individuals have almost five times higher odds of being unemployed. Educational level and age also show statistically significant associations with unemployment, while gender is not statistically significant. From a sociological perspective, the findings suggest that unemployment should be understood in relation to both individual background factors and broader structural inequalities in the labour market. Using Bourdieu’s concepts of field and capital, together with Elias and Scotson’s theory of established and outsider groups, the study discusses how labour market positions may be shaped by unequal access to resources, recognition and networks. Since the study cannot establish causality or directly measure factors such as discrimination, language skills or length of residence, the results should be interpreted with caution.