Labour market integration of highly educated refugees in Sweden : Why are they mismatched?

Abstract: This paper investigates occupational mismatch of highly educated refugees in Sweden and aims to study what factors are impacting their labour market integration process. In contrast to the extensive number of quantitative reports based on registered data in the field, this research applies a qualitative approach by conducting interviews with the target group and incorporating a temporal aspect of the process. The results confirm existing theories such as human capital deficit, lack of social capital and signalling issues, but also indicates that contextual factors, being family demands and financial pressure, affect the process. An openness towards a change of field and lack of guidance from authorities emerged as factors for mismatch too. Lastly, feelings of stress and frustration seems to influence the process to a big extent which leads us to the conclusion that the labour market integration process of educated refugees is highly influenced by the aspect of time - and more specifically the lack of it.