'It's who you know not what': migrants' encounters with regimes of skills as misrecognition

This article analyses qualitative narratives from skilled migrants using Bourdieu's concepts of misrecognition, symbolic and social capital to understand the uneven effects of migration transitions on employment outcomes among migrant groups. Transnational skilled migration is increasing to unp...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Studies in continuing education 2015-09, Vol.37 (3), p.267-285
Main Author: Webb, Sue
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Australia
Bourdieu
Bourdieu (P)
Case Studies
Deskilling
Dialects
Employer attitudes
Employment
Employment opportunities
English
Foreign Countries
Immigrants
Indigenous Knowledge
Migrant employment
Migrant workers
Migrants
Migration
Migration patterns
Narratives
Noncitizens
Professional continuing education
Pronunciation
Qualifications
Qualitative Research
Recognition (Achievement)
Skill development
skill underutilisation
skilled migration
Skilled Workers
Skills
Social Capital
Social Networks
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Summary:This article analyses qualitative narratives from skilled migrants using Bourdieu's concepts of misrecognition, symbolic and social capital to understand the uneven effects of migration transitions on employment outcomes among migrant groups. Transnational skilled migration is increasing to unprecedented levels, especially from non-OECD countries to OECD countries, where inward migration is a strategy to increase the skill level of workforces. Drawing on a qualitative case study of skilled migration to a regional non-metropolitan area of Australia, the article discusses the key finding that 'It's who you know, not what you know' which enabled both skilled migrants and their partners to secure employment commensurate with their qualifications and previous employment histories. Building the 'right' social networks post-migration were the gateways to securing employment. A 'regime of skills' was used by employers, employment agencies and educational providers who acted as gatekeepers to employment opening up opportunities for some or closing down that for others through processes of misrecognition of the migrants' experiences and skills and the prioritising of localised knowledge and native-like English accents. Through this process of misrecognition, the doxa of who should be employed and in what capacity was sustained.
ISSN:0158-037X
1470-126X
DOI:10.1080/0158037X.2015.1007938