Labour Market Participation and Immigrants’ Acculturation

Cultural diversity of the workforce has become a common feature of many organizations, which can have important implications for commitment and productivity within these organizations. From the perspective of society as a whole, a related question is to what extent education and employment (structural integration) may stimulate immigrants’ sense of national belonging, which is important for cohesion in society. The research discussed in this chapter indicates that structural integration can indeed stimulate immigrants’ sense of national belonging. Structural integration has positive consequences for national identification and trust in societal institutions. Being successful professionally contributes to a sense of host national inclusion because it involves a feeling of achievement and making a contribution to society, and increases social contacts with native majority members. This means that the management of cultural diversity in organizations can have important consequences for social cohesion and unity in society.