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Minorities & integration

Socioeconomic and socio-cultural disadvantage characterise the position of ethnic minority groups in the Netherlands. Research therefore devotes attention not only to the socioeconomic aspects of integration (e.g. education and work), but also to socio-cultural issues (such as language, interethnic contacts and value orientations).

Individual research domains
SCP carries out research to describe the integration of ethnic minorities in the Netherlands. SCP also tracks developments and monitors which factors explain the progress of that integration. Key research domains here are:

  • education
    The educational achievement of ethnic minority pupils in primary school; school dropout by ethnic minority pupils; ethnic segregation in education ('ethnic schools').

  • labour market
    The labour market position of ethnic minorities, with particular attention for the significance of labour market discrimination.

  • socio-cultural position
    Interethnic contacts; use of the Dutch language; value orientations; ethnic identification; mutual perceptions; and religion, with special attention for Islam.

  • geographical segregation
    Relationship between residential concentration and integration indicators, such as mutual perceptions and social contacts between ethnic minorities and the native population.

  • housing market position
    Housing quality, home ownership and residential concentration.

  • leisure time and media
    Involvement in sport; cultural participation;, media consumption; participation in voluntary organisations; club memberships.

  • ethnic minority women

Data
SCP obtains its data from surveys of ethnic minorities. These surveys are carried out either on the initiative of SCP (Life Situation of Urban Ethnic Minorities (LAS) 2004/2005), or at the request of the government minister responsible for integration (Survey of Integration of Minorities (SIM) 2006 and Survey of Integration of New Groups (SING)Integratie Nieuwe Groepen 2009). SCP also uses data from external sources, such as survey and record data from Statistics Netherlands (CBS).

Research at SCP
The Education & Minorities research group carries out most of the research on ethnic minorities, though other research groups are also concerned with integration: Housing, Liveability & Safety (housing market position, residential concentration), Time, Media & Culture (leisure time and media), Participation & Governance (participation in organisations), and Emancipation, Youth & Family (ethnic minority women). You will find information on current projects and recent publications under each of the research groups.

More information

  • CBS (Statistics Netherlands) statistical material