In Norway, there is growing discussion about a paradox – children of immigrants achieve comparable levels of education to their peers without immigrant backgrounds, yet they still earn less. This issue, revealed in a report by NRK, is symptomatic of deeper structural barriers that limit true equality of opportunity.
What does the report show?
Although I don’t have access to the full article, available sources report that children of immigrants earn relatively less even when they have the same level of education as other Norwegians. It is worth looking more closely at this — is it a matter of just a few percentage points, or rather the structure of employment and market-based discrimination?
International Context – “Nature” Research
International studies recently published in the journal Nature show that:
- Immigrants in developed countries — including Norway — earn on average 18% less than people without an immigrant background.
- The income gap for children of immigrants is smaller — about 6% on average, and when they perform the same jobs, the differences practically disappear.
This suggests that education alone is not enough — other factors play a greater role, such as access to the labor market, language proficiency, professional networks, and specific work experience.
The Need for Deeper Analysis
From this, several key conclusions emerge:
- Formal equality ≠ real equality – Despite earning qualifications, many children of immigrants still end up in lower-paid sectors, undermining educational success as a sufficient driver of social mobility.
- Language and professional barriers – Even with similar education levels, immigrants and their children may have limited access to better-paid professions, more often ending up in low-wage jobs.
- Systemic solutions are required – Complementary social and integration policies cannot be limited to education support — there is a need for programs that facilitate access to the labor market and the building of professional networks.
The Role of Policy and Society
The government and local authorities can support young people from immigrant families through internships, professional mentoring programs, language training tailored to labor market needs, and employer outreach initiatives. Schools and universities can introduce programs about the labor market, mentoring from industry representatives, workshops on CV writing, job interviews, and networking. Communities and organizations should promote role models among immigrant youth who have broken barriers in the job market — these are inspiring examples for others.
Summary
Although the educational success of children of immigrants in Norway is clearly visible, their lower incomes show that education is only part of the solution. Structural barriers have a profound impact: access to better jobs, language skills, and professional networks. To ensure real equality of opportunity, a holistic approach is needed — from education, through integration, to employment policy.
Source: NRK Trøndelag – “Barn av innvandrere tjener dårligere enn andre nordmenn med samme utdanningsnivå”
