International Organization for Migration (IOM)

level of education, undocumented migrants rely significantly more on informal
methods to find their jobs. Interestingly, for both documented and undocumented
immigrants, being more educated almost doubles the chance of finding a job through
an Italian friend. This clearly reflects the easier social integration of more educated
immigrants, irrespective of their legal status.
Table 7.11: Main channels used to find current job, by years of permanence in Italy and
legal status, 2001–2002
How did you find your current job? Documented immigrants Undocumented immigrants
0-2 yrs 3-5 yrs more
than 5 yrs
0-2 yrs 3-5 yrs more
than 5 yrs
… I found it by myself 18.28 25.87 40.36 14.62 19.71 32.50
...through relatives or friends
(immigrants)
50.54 42.59 29.56 69.67 61.13 36.67
...through Italian friends 19.68 19.36 19.59 11.33 13.50 22.50
…through a Public Employment
Office
5.05 5.14 5.05 0.26 0.36 0.00
…through NGOs or similar 3.76 4.58 3.95 3.03 4.38 6.67
other 2.69 2.46 1.50 1.09 0.91 1.67
Total 100 100 100 100 100 100
# observations 930 2,686 6,080 1,553 548 120
Note: Author’s calculations from ISMU data. Years 2001 and 2002. The table reports the share of
interviewees answering positively to each question.
Table 7.12: Main channels used to find current job, by level of education and legal status,
2001–2002
How did you find your Documented immigrants Undocumented immigrants
current job?
Educational level: Educational level:
None Primary Secondary Tertiary None Primary Secondary Tertiary
… I found it by myself 40.16 32.32 32.60 40.48 25.25 19.75 12.80 13.52
...through relatives or
friends (immigrants)
38.83 39.06 32.94 26.73 58.59 66.14 67.77 63.11
...through Italian
friends
12.98 18.36 22.23 20.58 8.08 10.38 14.63 16.8
…through a Public
Employment Office
3.40 5.14 5.35 4.70 0.00 0.11 0.46 0.41
…through NGOs or
similar
3.71 3.46 4.98 3.93 6.57 2.48 3.66 4.1
other 0.93 1.65 1.90 3.59 1.52 1.13 0.69 2.05
Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
# observations 971 3,932 3,531 1,171 198 886 875 244
Note: Author’s calculations from ISMU data. Years 2001 and 2002. The table reports the share of
interviewees answering positively to each question.
country studIes – ITALY
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