Ethnic Discrimination in the Workplace: Testing the Integration Paradox at the Municipality of Amsterdam

Abstract

Dutch employees with a non-western migration background perceive high levels of discrimination in the workplace. This can have many negative consequences, such as lower levels of job satisfaction. Current research looked into a non-western migration background leading to lower levels of job satisfaction, through higher levels of perceived discrimination in the workplace, and if this was different for first- and second-generation immigrants. It also looked into whether the effect of a non-western migration background on perceived discrimination was stronger for higher educated and for female employees. This was tested among employees at the municipality of Amsterdam. First- and second-generation non-western immigrants both reported lower levels of job satisfaction than native Dutch employees, through higher levels of perceived discrimination. For first-generation, a direct effect not explained by perceived discrimination also remained. There were no differences found between first- and second-generation non-western immigrants. The effect of a non-western background was stronger for higher educated employees, and among second-generation immigrants it was weaker for female employees. Given the importance of the subject, more research should be done.