This study examines workplace safety for immigrants and natives in 12 Western European countries, using data from the 2014 Labour Force Survey (LFS) ad hoc module. The work considers physical workload, exposure to psychosocial stress, and contact with carcinogenic agents in the workplace. The results indicate that immigrants are more likely to accept jobs with greater health risks; immigrantnative gaps are attenuated in low-skilled sectors but accentuated in skilled occupations. Immigrants who arrived as children in the host country show no significant differences from natives. However, persistent disadvantages for individuals from developing countries suggest discriminatory mechanisms. Entry modes into the host country significantly affect working conditions. Asylum seekers, in fact, face the most challenging situations, while the lack of recognition of professional qualifications, and insufficient language skills constitute the main obstacles to integration. Overall, our findings support a multidimensional interpretation of labour market inequalities involving individual, institutional, and structural factors.

ARDITO Chiara; 

2026-09-21

Carocci Editore

JRC143449

978-88-29-03495-6 (online),   

https://www.rivisteweb.it/doi/10.7384/120820,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC143449,   

10.7384/120820 (online),