Migration is a defining megatrend, with over 3 percent of the global population living outside their country of birth (Barnard et al., 2019) because of economic reasons or due to global crisis and disruptions. Migrants’ career trajectories often diverge from those of native-born populations, shaped by non-linear paths, discrimination, and the “liability of foreignness” (Fang et al., 2013; Christiansen & Kristjánsdóttir, 2022; Colakoglu et al., 2018). Migrant entrepreneurship and self-initiated expatriation are frequently framed as a pathway to economic inclusion in the new home country, it also raises critical questions about structural constraints, policy environments, and the lived experiences of migrants.

This symposium explores migrant (including company assigned employees who moved across borders) career dynamics as a mechanism for labor market integration, focusing on how migrants build social and human capital (Coleman, 2001), navigate institutional and organizational barriers, and transform marginalization into opportunity (Nowinska & Solheim, 2024). Drawing on theoretical frameworks from international business and human relations management, migration studies, and sociology—including embeddedness, career orientation, and institutional theory—the panel will examine how micro-level factors such as home-country backgrounds, human, social capital, agency and others and macro-level factors such as migration regimes, labor market regulations, and societal trust shape career dynamics and outcomes (Gaur et al., 2007; Acosta & Marinoni, 2023; Kim & Pei, 2022).

Panelists will present empirical studies highlighting how migrant workers and entrepreneurs mobilize transnational networks, engage with host-country institutions, and build careers. The session will also address how ethnicity, gender, and migration status intersect with entrepreneurial strategies and labor market participation (Waldinger, 2013; Berry, 2006).

Structured as an interactive dialogue, the symposium will feature four presentations followed by a moderated discussion and audience engagement. It aims to generate new insights into the evolving role of migrants and labor market integration and to foster interdisciplinary collaboration.

References:
Acosta & Marinoni (2023). Uncertainty and immigrant entrepreneurship: Evidence from brexit. Organization Science.
Barnard, Deeds, Mudambi, & Vaaler (2019). Migrants, migration policies, and international business research: Current trends and new directions

Berry (2006). Acculturation: A conceptual overview. Acculturation and parent-child relationships, 13–32.
Christiansen & Kristj´ansd´ottir (2022). “whether you like my skin or not, i am here. Journal of Global Mobility, 10 (4), 496–514.

Colakoglu, Yunlu, & Arman (2018). High-skilled female immigrants: Career strategies and experiences. Journal of Global Mobility, 6 (3/4), 258–284.

Coleman (2001). Social and human capital. Social sciences and modernity, 3, 122–139.

Fang, Samnani, Novicevic, & Bing (2013). Liability-of-foreignness effects on job success of immigrant job seekers. Journal of World Business, 48 (1), 98–109.

Gaur, Delios, & Singh (2007). Institutional environments, staffing strategies, and subsidiary performance. Journal of Management, 33 (4), 611–636.

Kim & Pei(2022). Monopsony in the high-skilled migrant labor market-evidence from h-1b visa program. Available at SSRN 4010152

Nowinska, & Solheim (2024). Unpacking the influence of foreignness on employment prospects within a multinational enterprise: Journal of Global Mobility, (ahead-of-print).

Waldinger (2013). Immigrant transnationalism. Current Sociology, 61 (5-6), 756–777.