How can we shorten the road to work for migrant mothers – is the solution a carrot or a stick?
Employment among immigrant parents can be improved with the right policies, according to a new Nordic study. But what kind of policies work best? In 2025, Denmark introduced a ‘work requirement’ aimed at non-Western immigrant women on public assistance. What are the initial experiences, and is it having the desired effect? Or is the solution a better family policy that takes into account the whole life situation?
The Nordic study shows that some family policies can also deepen inequalities. Having children reduces the employment rate among women, especially among mothers with a foreign background. They are also more likely to have temporary and part-time jobs, even though in many cases they would prefer to work full-time. The Nordic region needs broad participation in the labour market in order to maintain our welfare society.
In the debate, we discuss how we can shorten the path to employment for foreign-born women based on research-based knowledge and Nordic examples.
