Decoupling selection: Romanian migrants in Spain and the UK and the disconnect between observable and unobservable traits
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3989/ris.2025.83.4.1503Keywords:
migrant selectivity, education, Romania, unemployment, job search intensityAbstract
In this paper we explore the relationship between positive selection on observable traits and unobservable traits among Romanian migrants in Spain and the United Kingdom. Using comparative data and a standardized index of job search intensity during unemployment, we show that although Romanian migrants in the UK are strongly positively selected on education, this does not necessarily translate into greater resilience or proactive labor market engagement, as measured by job search intensity. In contrast, migrants in Spain display the lowest levels of active job seeking, even lower than non-migrants in Romania. These findings challenge the common assumption in the literature that positive selection on observable traits automatically implies selection on unobservable traits and highlight the importance of considering destination context and structural factors in shaping labor market integration processes.
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Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación
Grant numbers PID2024-160251NB-C22
