Abstract

Reduction or Reproduction of Inequality? Effects of Further Vocational Training for unemployed Immigrants

This paper discusses whether – and, if so, how – the structural disadvantage of immigrants in the labour market is reflected in the promotion of further vocational training for the unemployed by the federal employment agency. Does further vocational training reduce inequality between immigrants and non-immigrants in the labour market? Or is inequality reproduced? Or does cumulative disadvantage increase due to inadequate returns from further vocational training (the so-called Matthew effect)? This article presents the results of impact analyses that examine the promotion of further vocational training for unemployed migrants and non-migrants. The empirical analysis is based on longitudinal data of further vocational training participants and unemployed non-participants from panel surveys. The thesis of a cumulative consolidation or enhancement of inequality caused by further vocational training is not confirmed. Instead the results indicate that immigrants who have undergone further vocational training have considerably higher labour-market success than non-participating immigrants. But it is not possible to eliminate the unequal distribution of chances for immigrants and non-immigrants by further vocational training. This results, not least, from ethnic discrimination in the labour market. Controlling for other factors, such as general and vocational education, the variable ’immigration" still has a negative effect on the likelihood of being employed even after further vocational training.