University graduates with immigrant backgrounds outearn Dutch peers
Recent research reveals that HBO graduates with non-Western migration backgrounds are earning higher wages on average than their Dutch-origin counterparts, narrowing the gap in labor market outcomes. According to the HBO-Monitor, a long-term survey conducted by Limburg's ROA research institute, this trend has become increasingly pronounced in recent years, Trouw reports.
The HBO-Monitor annually surveys young professionals 18 months after graduating from higher professional education (HBO) institutions in the Netherlands. The latest findings, based on responses from 168,528 graduates between 2011 and 2023, reveal an unexpected wage advantage for non-Western graduates.
In 2023, the average gross hourly wage for HBO graduates with a non-Western migration background was 0.70 euros higher than for those without a migration background. This figure was adjusted for variables such as age, gender, and field of study. Over the entire survey period, the wage difference averaged 0.13 euros per hour, consistently favoring graduates with non-Western backgrounds.
This trend has been particularly evident since 2019, with graduates from migrant backgrounds steadily earning more than their peers. The survey also found that those graduates secure jobs at their educational level as often as Dutch-origin graduates, indicating comparable employment outcomes.
The higher wages remain puzzling to researchers. Melline Somers, one of the analysts, speculated that cultural factors might play a role. “Non-Western graduates may feel more pressure from their parents to succeed or be more ambitious due to the additional hurdles they’ve faced on their path to employment,” she said.
The findings align with broader trends noted by the CBS two months ago, showing that immigrants and their children are closing the gap with the general population on multiple fronts. Indicators such as homeownership, income levels, and educational attainment all show marked improvements. For example, children of immigrants now more frequently attend havo or vwo classes than they did a decade ago.
Despite the positive developments, the HBO-Monitor highlights ongoing challenges. Graduates with migration backgrounds still face greater difficulty securing internships and tend to spend more time searching for their first job. In 2014, these graduates took nearly 50 days longer than their Dutch-origin peers to find employment. By 2023, this gap had narrowed to 10 days.
Sociologist Maarten Wolbers, not involved in the research, believes the findings are robust and suggests an additional explanation. Many graduates in question take a less traditional route to HBO, often passing through MBO programs first rather than directly transitioning from havo.
“While this pathway takes longer, it offers substantial practical experience through internships and apprenticeships,” Wolbers said. “That practical knowledge can provide an edge when entering the job market, potentially explaining the wage advantage.”
