Stockholm University
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Understanding migrant integration under the lens of family policy use: Parental leave use among migrants in a couple perspective

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posted on 2024-10-14, 07:30 authored by Eleonora MussinoEleonora Mussino, Ann-Zofie DuvanderAnn-Zofie Duvander, Konstantin Kazenin

The Swedish parental leave policy is known for its generosity and flexibility, allowing parents to temporarily exit the workforce with substantial income compensation to balance work and childcare. However, parents' labor market positions will determine whether it can be used efficiently. Among some migrant groups, lower maternal employment, higher fertility rates, and traditional gender roles lead to unequal parental leave uptake compared to the non-migrant majority. Understanding how couples of different origins share parental leave is crucial for grasping immigrant integration and informing policy development. This study investigates variations in parental leave usage among couples with diverse migrant backgrounds, using a couple-based approach due to the interconnected nature of mothers' and fathers' decisions. By analyzing unique data from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency, which includes detailed records of parental leave spells linked to both parents and their children, the research identifies nine distinct patterns of leave uptake. The findings show that while most couples share parental leave for either extended or short periods, significant differences emerge based on migrant background. These disparities are influenced by socioeconomic factors like income, education, living arrangements, and geographical location. The typical Swedish pattern of "Long Shared Paid Leave" is most common among couples where the father is Swedish-born and the mother is a 1.5-generation. This pattern is less prevalent among couples with two migrant backgrounds. When socioeconomic factors are controlled, "Standard Shared Paid Leave" becomes the most common pattern among migrant couples. In conclusion, migration background and socioeconomic variables significantly influence parental leave patterns.

Funding

Family policies and Migrant integration: understanding parental leave and childhood education and care use and their consequences among migrants in Sweden

Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare

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History

ISSN

2002-617X

Original title

Understanding migrant integration under the lens of family policy use: Parental leave use among migrants in a couple perspective

Original language

  • English

Publication date

2024-10-14

access_level

  • public

access_condition

  • PUBLIC