Resourceful female immigrants’ experiences of the Norwegian activation field

Abstract

This study explores how resourceful female immigrants experience their employment processes concerning user involvement within the Norwegian activation field. This qualitative analysis is based on interviews with 26 female immigrants characterized as resourceful in terms of speaking Norwegian well; being active in job searching; having high education or skills from their country of origin or wanting to obtain higher education. The interviewees reported receiving little information and guidance from the Labour and Welfare Service (NAV). They spent a considerable amount of time trying to find opportunities in what they experienced as a complex and unclear activation field, and only by coincidence, encountered services that could help them become more employable and obtain employment. The interviewees applied but were often rejected for services, e.g. skills training courses or work placements, and if they received services, they did not find them to be individually tailored or based on long-term plans. They experienced having little influence regarding which type, level and/or content of services they received, and these did not reflect what they considered that they actually needed to cease being unemployed. The findings highlight the importance of that also this group needs facilitated individual, personalized and tailor-made information and services to integrate into local labour markets.