Migrants and their descendants in Switzerland : an overview

Abstract. Switzerland is one of the countries with the highest proportion of international migrants and non-citizens. Recent research findings based on the data of the Swiss Population Census 2000 underline the increasingly complex and multifaceted nature of migration and integration processes. This contribution gives an overview of the main research results referring to spatial segregation, cultural diversity, labour market participation and human capital of migrants and their descendants of the second generation. Growing religious and linguistic diversity is posing new challenges for Swiss society and politics. Differences in labour market integration according to gender, origin and educational background of migrants are gaining in importance. However, integration difficulties are generally overcome with increasing duration of residence. The positive contribution of migrants and their descendants to social mobility and the stock of human capital are increasing and the trend to highly qualified labour migration is confirmed.