Indicator history

The foreign born population have on average lower income than those born in Sweden and the difference has increased over the past 50 years. The longer immigrants live in Sweden, the higher income they get on average.

In 2008, people born in Asia and Africa had the lowest average income (52% of native-born average wage), while those born in Oceania have the highest (104% of the native-born average wage).

The Nordic immigrants, who for example have the advantage that they either already know Swedish or are more likely to learn it, have the second highest income of all immigrant groups. However, according to statistics from 2008,  they still earn only 87% of native born swedish people's average income.

The income differences between immigrants and native Swedes varies slightly in different age groups. Above all, the greatest in the age group 25-34. Immigrants' children are doing well and have almost as much in salary as children with parents born in Sweden. Especially in the older ages, 55-64 years, there is basically no difference at all.
 

Source: 

Migrationsinfo.se, http://www.migrationsinfo.se/arbetsmarknad/inkomster-bland-utrikes-fodda/ (accessed 2012-03-11). 

Hammarstedt, M. (2003), ’Income from work among immigrants in Sweden’, The Review of Income and Wealth 49 (2), http://www.sweden.gov.se/content/1/c6/09/52/58/959d7136.pdf (accessed 2012-03-10).