Sofia Antera Researcher

Migrant Women as the Regular Reserve Army of Labour? An Interrogation of Vocational Training of Migrant Care Workers in Sweden (Researcher)

The project investigates migrant women’s experiences in municipal adult education programs within healthcare and social care, examining how vocational training and recognition of prior knowledge influence skills development, employability and social inclusion.

Through qualitative interviews, document analysis, and policy review, the research explores how education pathways intersect with labour market dynamics, highlighting the structural mechanisms that position migrant women as a contingent or “reserve” workforce. The project aims to generate evidence-based insights for the design of educational and vocational programs that support sustainable employment, professional development, and social integration for migrant women in the Swedish care sector.

Previous research projects

• Co-creating Targeted Support for Immigrants with Labour Market Employment
  Studied and developed strategies for municipal and occupational support for immigrants in employment, focusing on improving integration and workplace inclusion.
  Link to report
• Professional Competence of Vocational Teachers
  Investigated how vocational teachers’ prior occupational experience and training shape their professional identity and teaching practices.
• Study Tutors’ Work with Newly Arrived Students
  Examined the professional role and practical approaches of study tutors supporting newly arrived students in Swedish schools, highlighting challenges and effective support strategies.
• The Competent Dance Teacher in Commercial Dance Schools
  Investigated the professional competence, identity, and teaching practices of dance instructors in Swedish commercial dance schools.

Antera, S. (2025). From dancing to teaching: The competent dance teacher in Swedish commercial dance schools. Research in Dance Education, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/14647893.2025.2570138

Antera, S., & Moreno Herrera, L. (2025). Migrant labour in the automotive industry: A literature review. Nordic Journal of Vocational Education and Training, 15(4), 1–23. https://doi.org/10.3384/njvet.2242‑458X.251541

Antera, S., & Nilsson, S. (2025). Competence profiles of vocational teachers in Sweden. International Journal for Research in Vocational Education and Training, 12(3), 410–432. https://doi.org/10.13152/IJRVET.12.3.5

Antera, S., & Teräs, M. (2024). Discovering and developing the vocational teacher identity. Education + Training, 66(5), 524–540. https://doi.org/10.1108/ET‑09‑2023‑0363

Arbets- och miljömedicin Uppsala, & Uppsala kommun. (2025). Samskapande av riktat stöd för immigranter med arbetsmarknadsanställning (Rapport nr 1/2025). https://ammuppsala.se/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/rapport-1-2025-klar.pdf

Fuster, C., Antera, S., & Munhall, B. (2024). Translanguaging as an official support measure for newly arrived students in Sweden. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/01434632.2024.2401099

Munhall, B., Fuster, C., & Antera, S. (2024). Study tutors’ professional role and practical work with newly arrived students in Sweden. Language and Education, Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500782.2024.2422557