Continuity and change in professional roles and practices. A narrative study on immigrant workers’ experiences in Italy

The study here presented is focused on the process of transfer and adaptation of prior forms of knowledge and competences that immigrant workers use in adapting to new life and work contexts. In particular, the focus of the study is on immigrant workers who have a medium or high schooling level and had a qualified and specialized professional role in their home country but have found very different professional conditions in the hosting countries (such as housemaids or attendant/caregiver for old or disabled people). Through in depth interviews and narratives we focus on the process of knowledge and competences adaptation, transformation and transfer and explore the richness that this process brings to the new professional roles, performances and practices.