Immigrant Men's Labour Market Incorporation in South Africa: Regional and National Origin Differences

This study explores the process of labour market incorporation among migrant men in South Africa, which has become a magnet for regional immigration in recent decades. Using 2011 Census data, we compare the employment rates, class of worker, occupation and income of black African immigrants, by region of origin, to black South African-born internal migrants, and examine how these outcomes are associated with various forms of human capital. Results show that, overall, immigrant men enjoy higher employment levels compared to internal migrants. However, this immigrant employment advantage does not extend into other labour market outcomes. Immigrant men are over-represented in the informal sector, which contributes to generally lower income relative to South Africans. The returns to education are also markedly lower for immigrants than for their internal migrant counterparts. Results also highlight variations across regional and national origin groups, with better-resourced groups exhibiting more favourable outcomes than longer-established but lower-skilled co-ethnic communities.