This thesis examines the labor market integration of immigrant women in southern Sweden, focusing on how they navigate opportunities and barriers through work-integrated learning (WIL). Despite Sweden’s reputation for progressive gender and labor policies, immigrant women continue to face inequities in employment access, recognition of prior qualifications, and opportunities for advancement.

Drawing on 12 first-person narratives published by the International Citizen Hub Lund (ICHL), the study explores how women describe their pathways into work, the strategies they use to translate prior skills, and their perceptions of Swedish work culture and belonging.

The analysis is framed by Human Capital Theory, which highlights investments in skills such as language learning and retraining; WIL, which emphasizes practice-based opportunities like volunteering, mentoring, and short placements; and Intersectionality Theory, which reveals how gender, migration status, and racialization intersect to reproduce structural disadvantages.

Methodologically, the research employs qualitative thematic analysis of the narratives, treating them as situated accounts shaped by both personal voice and institutional context.

Findings show that immigrant women leverage WIL in both formal and informal settings to build credibility, networks, and confidence, yet systemic frictions persist in credential recognition, employer expectations, and trust-based recruitment. Their strategies — such as sequencing language study with volunteering or reframing prior expertise through community roles —illustrate resilience while exposing institutional shortcomings. The study contributes by refining the concept of livelihood advancement to include not only employment but also autonomy, recognition, and social belonging, offering practical implications for policy, employers, and community programs.