Purpose – This paper aims to present new research on family-supported immigrant women. Throughout the period 1994-2005, around 11 percent of immigrant women aged 25-66 from non-Western countries in Denmark were family-supported. Design/methodology/approach – The study applies a mixed methods approach integrating register-based quantitative analysis with qualitative analysis of interview material. Findings – The paper finds that family-supported immigrant women in Denmark can roughly be divided into two sub-groups. One group of women from the former Eastern bloc who have arrived recently, who have a relatively high-level of education and who often have a Danish husband; and another group of women from more typical “guest worker” countries, who have a lower level of education and who often have a husband with the same ethnic origin. A second finding is that for some women, being family-supported is a permanent rather that a temporary state. Third, the paper finds that family-supported women have a variety of motivating factors pulling them towards a working life, but they experience barriers for employment and education such as non-recognition of qualifications obtained outside of Denmark and a high demand for Danish linguistic skills. Practical implications – The practical implications of the research are numerous. One implication is that qualifications depreciate when not used. Being fixed in a job where one's skills are not utilized violates future employment opportunities. The marginal position of these women on the labor market makes them vulnerable, not least in times of recession. Originality/value – Little research has previously been done about this group of women, even though the size of the group is not negligible. © 2011, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Labour market immigrants Foreign skills Women Denmark poverty

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