ABSTRACT
Children of post-war immigrants are leaving school and entering the labour market in increasing numbers in most of the countries of north-west Europe. Their achievements and the opportunities available to them in those countries are often regarded as the ‘litmus test’ not just for integration, but for the success or failure of policies in this field (Penninx 2003: 2). The experiences of these children may provide a clearer indication of the long-term prospects for integration into society than do the experiences of the first generation, their parents. Those who arrived in Europe during the post-war period were mainly recruited as cheap labour and may have had difficulties in adjusting because of the ‘negative entry effect’ (Reitz & Somerville 2004: 386) that arises from issues such as a lack of language proficiency, lack of academic qualifications, or structural barriers in the labour market. Therefore, the difficulties experienced by the second generation may be a truer reflection of whether or not there are real, long-term structural problems with the integration process. At the same time, the difficulties they face may also give a more accurate picture of the unequal opportunities than did the difficulties experienced by their immigrant parents.
