Enrolment of Second-Generation Migrant Jobseekers in Training Programmes and Internships: Exploring the Gap between Natives with and Without a Migration Background

In many high-income countries, migrant-native gaps persist in employment, even among second generation migrants. Active Labour Market Policies (ALMP), like occupation-specific training and internships, aim to enhance employability, yet evidence on differential enrolment by migration background remains limited. Using linked register data for Belgium, this study (I) documents differential uptake by migration background, and (II) addresses the extent to which such differentials are related to individual characteristics and coaching by caseworkers. We find significantly lower enrolment in internships and especially occupation-specific training among second generation migrant groups, those of non-European origin in particular. Migrant-native differences in human capital partly explain the gaps, whereas the gap remains largely unchanged when controlling for jobseekers’ flexibility. Conversely, the gap would be wider if second-generation migrant groups were not on average coached more intensively by caseworkers. Finally, much of the variation remains unexplained, highlighting a need for future research testing complementary theoretical explanations.