In this article, the residential situation of the immigrants coming from Africa to the province of Almeria is described, analyzing mainly two aspects. Firstly, the residential segregation starting from the indexes of dissimilarity, isolation and absolute centralization. Secondly, the characteristics of the lodgings inhabited by the immigrants, taking as reference the indicators of stability, adequacy, habitability and affordability. The data were obtained from the Municipal Census and from a survey. The results show high residential segregation and a deficient residential situation, where almost three out of every four African immigrants live in unfit dwellings. The main reason that explains this situation is ethnic discrimination.
The article analyses the integration process of the immigrants coming from the non-member states of the EU into the labour market in the Spanish province of Almeria. A main characteristic of the labour market the immigrants enter into is its segmentation. The immigrants are engaged in a labour that is regarded by the majority society as a less valuable due to its precariousness, temporary character, and low wages. Some of the immigrants make attempts to avoid the segmented labour market by starting their own business. Thus, they create an ethnic economic system wherein the employers as well as the employees speak their mother tongue, come from the same ethnic group, and whose products are designated for their own ethnic community. The ethnic economy combines some of the features of both primary and secondary labour markets. It appears to become an alternative for only those immigrants who have an opportunity to start or to manage the entrepreneurial activities.
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