“Kamp och seger på den svenska arbetsmarknaden” - En narrativ analys om de hinder och möjligheter som individer med utländsk bakgrund möter i sin strävan att etablera sig på arbetsmarknaden.

In Sweden, a prevalent topic of discussion revolves around the challenges faced by immigrants when attempting to integrate into the Swedish labor market. The aim of this study was therefore to examine obstacles and opportunities that individuals with a foreign background face and how their actual identity is affected by the establishment and making a career. Employing a qualitative approach with a narrative focus, the study analyzed three autobiographies of successful women and men with foreign backgrounds who have integrated into the Swedish labor market. This study found that language skills and social support have a significant impact on the authors' establishment, while preconceived notions about ethnicity were clear examples that hinder access to the labor market. Moreover, the study revealed that individuals with weak ties to their ethnic heritage commonly experience negative emotions regarding their social identity, whereas those with strong ties to their origins experience positive emotions and pride in their identity. Furthermore, the results indicated how pride in their professions stems from perceiving their careers as meaningful, representing sources of influence, power, relationship building, and innovation.