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Between work and belonging: economic pathways to immigrant integration - a case study on the chinese community in Portugal
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Esta dissertação investiga a integração económica e social dos imigrantes, focando-se particularmente em dois caminhos distintos mas complementares: a atividade empreendedora e a participação no mercado de trabalho. Os imigrantes contribuem não apenas para a sua própria mobilidade socioeconómica, mas também para a economia nacional em geral, sendo a sua integração moldada por interações complexas entre os quadros políticos e as perceções sociais. Ao analisar as políticas de migração a nível da UE e nacional, a presente investigção examina de que forma os regulamentos estruturais e sociais influenciam o acesso dos imigrantes ao emprego, destacando obstáculos como a burocracia, a segmentação do mercado de trabalho e os preconceitos sociais.
Para compreender como estes dois caminhos influenciam a integração, este estudo combina uma revisão das teorias e políticas de migração e integração com investigação qualitativa adicional, baseada em entrevistas semiestruturadas com empreendedores imigrantes, trabalhadores e atores relevantes nos setores empresarial e laboral.
Os resultados revelam que a atividade empreendedora não só proporciona aos imigrantes rendimentos e independência financeira, como também promove redes sociais, envolvimento comunitário e acesso a oportunidades económicas mais amplas. A participação no mercado de trabalho, por sua vez, contribui para o desenvolvimento de competências, aquisição de língua e interação com as comunidades locais, reforçando a integração social. Os entrevistados destacaram tanto desafios estruturais (como barreiras burocráticas e discriminação) como fatores facilitadores, incluindo redes empresariais de apoio e práticas inclusivas nos locais de trabalho.
A combinação de dados quantitativos e qualitativos sugere que o envolvimento económico dos imigrantes tem um impacto mensurável na criação de emprego, no desenvolvimento de negócios e no crescimento económico local, confirmando que a sua integração beneficia tanto os indivíduos como a sociedade em geral. Ao ligar experiências individuais a resultados económicos mais amplos, esta dissertação oferece uma compreensão aprofundada de como os imigrantes se integram na sociedade portuguesa através da atividade económica.
This thesis investigates the economic and social integration of immigrants, with a particular focus on two complementary pathways: entrepreneurial activity and labor market participation. Immigrants contribute not only to their own socioeconomic mobility but also to the broader national economy, yet their integration is shaped by complex interactions between policy frameworks and societal perceptions. By analyzing migration policies at both EU and national levels, this research examines how regulatory environments influence immigrants’ access to employment and the creation of businesses, highlighting barriers such as bureaucratic obstacles, labor market segmentation, and social prejudice. To understand how these two pathways influence integration, the study combines a review of migration and integration theories and policy, with additional qualitative research based on semi-structured interviews with immigrant entrepreneurs, employees, and stakeholders in the business and labor sectors. Findings reveal that entrepreneurial activity not only provides immigrants with income and financial independence but also fosters social networks, community engagement, and access to broader economic opportunities. Labor market participation, meanwhile, contributes to skill development, language acquisition, and interaction with local communities, reinforcing social integration. Interviewees highlighted both structural challenges (such as bureaucratic barriers and discrimination) and enabling factors, including supportive business networks and inclusive workplace practices. Combined quantitative and qualitative insights suggests that immigrants’ economic engagement has a measurable impact on employment generation, business creation, and local economic growth, confirming that their integration benefits both individuals and the wider society. By linking individual experiences with broader economic outcomes, this thesis provides a nuanced understanding of how immigrants integrate into Portuguese society through economic activity.
This thesis investigates the economic and social integration of immigrants, with a particular focus on two complementary pathways: entrepreneurial activity and labor market participation. Immigrants contribute not only to their own socioeconomic mobility but also to the broader national economy, yet their integration is shaped by complex interactions between policy frameworks and societal perceptions. By analyzing migration policies at both EU and national levels, this research examines how regulatory environments influence immigrants’ access to employment and the creation of businesses, highlighting barriers such as bureaucratic obstacles, labor market segmentation, and social prejudice. To understand how these two pathways influence integration, the study combines a review of migration and integration theories and policy, with additional qualitative research based on semi-structured interviews with immigrant entrepreneurs, employees, and stakeholders in the business and labor sectors. Findings reveal that entrepreneurial activity not only provides immigrants with income and financial independence but also fosters social networks, community engagement, and access to broader economic opportunities. Labor market participation, meanwhile, contributes to skill development, language acquisition, and interaction with local communities, reinforcing social integration. Interviewees highlighted both structural challenges (such as bureaucratic barriers and discrimination) and enabling factors, including supportive business networks and inclusive workplace practices. Combined quantitative and qualitative insights suggests that immigrants’ economic engagement has a measurable impact on employment generation, business creation, and local economic growth, confirming that their integration benefits both individuals and the wider society. By linking individual experiences with broader economic outcomes, this thesis provides a nuanced understanding of how immigrants integrate into Portuguese society through economic activity.
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Integração Empreendedorismo Participação no mercado de trabalho imigração Integration Entrepreneurhsip Workforce participation Immigration