Is There an Employment Advantage for Immigrant Women Who Marry Natives in Italy?

Abstract

In this study, we assess the impact of intermarriage on employment outcomes among immigrant women, compared with endogamous (immigrant women married to immigrants). We measure employment outcomes using three variables: a binary outcome (employed or not), a continuous outcome (average weekly hours of work), and a proxy for underemployment. The linear probability model reveals that intermarried immigrant women are nearly 8 percentage points less likely to be employed than their endogamous counterparts. With regard to the intensity of employment, there are no significant differences for women in both marriage types in their probability of being underemployed or in the hours worked.