Around the world for a better life: job satisfaction and social inclusion of migrants in Southern Italy

Purpose – The present study explores the link between job satisfaction and social integration among immigrants in the province of Foggia, Southern Italy. Design/methodology/approach – The analysis relies on an original dataset collected through surveys administered to migrants. After identifying the determinants of job satisfaction and integration separately, a recursive system of equations was estimated through the conditional mixed process approach to capture the causal interaction between the two dimensions. Findings – The results reveal a complex interaction between job satisfaction and social integration: while greater integration led to lower tolerance for poor working conditions, improved job satisfaction enhanced the perception of social inclusion. Originality/value – The study is the first to examine the bidirectional relationship between job satisfaction and social integration among migrants using original microdata.