Market employment characteristics of Eastern European female migrants in multicultural Australia: comparative perspective

Yaghoob Foroutan, University of Mazandaran

Using the results of an empirical research, this paper examines the patterns and determinants of the market employment (that is, both employment status and occupational level) of Eastern European female migrants. Focusing on the multiethnic and multicultural setting of Australia where approximately one-forth of population is overseas-born with a substantial ethnic diversity, this paper is also able to highlight work differentials between this migrant group with both native-born and female migrants from other regions of origin. As the status and success of migrant groups in the labour market has been observed as a key indication of migrants’ settlement in the destination country (VandenHeuvel and Wooden 1996), while acknowledging issues arising from selectivity of migration, the multivariate findings of this study provide a basis for settlement assessment of Eastern European female migrants.