## Shifting Perceptions: Unpacking Public Support for Immigrant Workers Integration in the Labor Market

_IMF Working Papers, October 16, 2024_

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [Shifting Perceptions: Unpacking Public Support for Immigrant Workers Integration in the Labor Market](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2024/10/16/shifting-perceptions-unpacking-public-support-for-immigrant-workers-integration-in-the-556362)

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## Bibliographic details
- Authors: Silvia Albrizio, Hippolyte W. Balima, Bertrand Gruss, Eric Huang, Colombe Ladreit
- Published: October 16, 2024
- Series: IMF Working Papers
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9798400290374.001

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### Overview
- This paper investigates public perceptions and support for policies aimed at integrating immigrant workers into domestic labor markets.
- It provides new insights into attitudes toward migrant integration policies and the impact of different information provisions on belief updating.

### Methodology & Sample
- Large-scale surveys involving 6,300 respondents from Canada, Italy, and the United Kingdom.
- The analysis includes an online experiment testing different information provisions: explanations of economic mechanisms, presentation of policy effects, and real-life stories of integration challenges.

### Key Findings
- Three key factors shape policy support:
  - pre-existing stereotypes about immigrants,
  - awareness of labor market integration policies for migrants,
  - the perceived economic and social impact of these policies.
- Providing information about the economic effects of integrating immigrants in the labor market significantly alters perceptions and increases support for these policies.
- Explanations of the economic mechanisms underlying these policies are more effective than:
  - simply presenting policy effects, or
  - real-life stories of integration challenges.
- Fairness considerations toward unemployed native workers emerge as the top concern and primary barrier to policy support.
- Addressing individuals’ specific concerns through tailored mitigation measures can enhance support for policies aimed at better integrating migrants.
- A significant challenge remains in overcoming mistrust in the government’s commitment and ability to effectively implement these policies and accompanying measures.

### Policy Implications and Recommendations
- Prioritize communication strategies that explain the economic mechanisms of labor market integration policies rather than only presenting outcomes or anecdotal stories.
- Design tailored mitigation measures that directly address fairness concerns toward unemployed native workers to increase public support.
- Implement measures to build trust in government commitment and capacity to effectively implement integration policies and accompanying mitigation measures.

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## Content in this bundle

- **Working Paper**
  - [Working Paper (PDF)](/-/media/files/publications/wp/2024/english/wpiea2024217-print-pdf.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"}

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_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2024/10/16/shifting-perceptions-unpacking-public-support-for-immigrant-workers-integration-in-the-556362_