New subject: [MIM-Highly.Skilled] Open Access Book on the Definition of "Wanted Migrants" by State and Economic Actors

17 Sep 2019


      Dear all,
I am very glad to announce the publication of my open access book on the definition,
selection and recruitment of highly skilled migrants by state and economic actors in
Switzerland.
You can download this book for free by clicking on the image below or on this link:
https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030211219
I am looking forward to your feedback!
Best regards,
Laure Sandoz
[https://media.springernature.com/w306/springer-static/cover-hires/book/978-…
Abstract:
This open access book analyses the strategies of migration intermediaries from the public
and private sectors in Switzerland to select, attract, and retain highly skilled migrants
who represent value to them. It reveals how state and economic actors define “wanted
immigrants” and provide them with privileged access to the Swiss territory and labour
market. The analysis draws on an ethnographic study conducted in the French-speaking Lake
Geneva area and the German-speaking northwestern region of Switzerland between 2014 and
2018. It shows how institutional actors influence which resources are available to
different groups of newcomers by defining and dividing migrants according to constructed
social categories that correlate with specific status and privileges. This research thus
shifts the focus from an approach that takes the category of highly skilled migrant for
granted to one that regards context as crucial for structuring migrants’ characteristics,
trajectories, and experiences. Beyond consideration of professional qualifications, the
ways decision-makers perceive candidates and shape their resource environments are crucial
for constructing them as skilled or unskilled, wanted or unwanted, welcome or unwelcome.