The emergence of an ‘ethnic economy’? The spatial relationships of migrant workers in London's health and hospitality sectors

Abstract

This paper examines how the globalized nature of London's service sector redefines spatial relationships for recent migrants working in the health and hospitality industries. Findings from the qualitative data demonstrate that recent temporary migrants to the UK employ broader strategies to secure employment than accounted for by current theories. The migrants in our case studies overwhelmingly utilized global and local recruitment and employment agencies, as well as sought employment in industries already established as ‘ethnic economies’. We suggest that this might be attributed to a lack of interaction with established co-ethnic immigrant communities; temporary migration trajectories; and living arrangements with co-migrants. We conclude by emphasizing the need to broaden our understanding of ethnic economies and social networks in light of these changing spatial relationships that have emerged through the globalization of the service sector in the UK.

Keywords:

• migrant
• labour
• temporary
• ethnic economy
• social networks

Acknowledgements

This research was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (grant number RES 225 25 2001). We gratefully acknowledge its support. We also thank the respondents for spending their valuable time talking to us.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Adina Batnitzky

ADINA BATNITZKY is Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of San Diego.

Linda McDowell

LINDA MCDOWELL is Professor in the School of Geography and the Environment at the University of Oxford.