La dimensione economica e sociale delle donne immigrate in Sicilia: un Focus sulla provincia di Enna

Migration flows are a crucial point in the agenda of policy makers: they may generate tensions in the countries of destination and, in particular, in those segments of the society perceiving the arrival of immigrants as a threat to their economic and social condition. However, we must not forget that one of the key determinants of migration is the demand for labor in the receiving nations. Moreover, immigrants generally come to replace the natives in those jobs they shunned. This paper presents an analysis of female migration flows in one of the more marginal areas of the Italian region of Sicily, i.e., the Province of Enna. In particular, based on the data, the authors present the situation of female migration in this area, as well as the problem of their integration into the labor market. The analysis shows the care of the elderly being the most widespread sector where foreign workers are employed and points to the importance of seeing their presence as source of wealth, growth and development for the area of interest from an economic point of view, as well as from a socio-cultural perspective.