In the "Vivre ensemble au Luxembourg" ("Living together in Luxembourg") survey, carried out by ASTI together with TNS / ILRES, around 1,119 residents expressed their thoughts on integration and their choice of the Grand Duchy as a host country.
The survey showed that most non-Luxembourg residents regarded their decision to move move to Luxembourg as a good one: 74% of those interviewed would make the same decision again while 85% of people who were born abroad, regardless of their nationality, would choose to return to live in Luxembourg. Indeed, most residents viewed Luxembourg as a good place to live, with 81% saying they appreciated the quality of life in general, 63% the safety of the country, 56% the social and political stability and 55% the high wages.
In terms of identity, family remained the shared value, regardless of nationality: 71% of interviewees regarded family as the most important constituent element of their personality. In second and third place (47%) were the languages spoken, among which the mother tongue remains the most important element. Compared to foreign nationals, Luxembourgers were more likely to define their personal identity by emphasising language skills over family ties.
With regard to living together, the residents' responses were mixed: 79% believed that Luxembourgers and foreigners live well together and 77% said that Luxembourgers are rather welcoming. Conversely, 64% thought that Luxembourgers and foreigners live next to each other rather than with one another and 64% believed that Luxembourgers were not so open in general. Despite this not very encouraging and somewhat contradictory finding, respondents remained optimistic since
85% disagreed with the opinion that Luxembourgers and foreigners could never live well together.
As expected, the language issue remains central in terms of integration: 90% of respondents said that integration implies that one of the three languages of the country is spoken and 80% were of the opinion that this should be the Luxembourgish language. This observation shows a pragmatic attitude, according to ASTI. The Luxembourgish language is attributed with an integration function which is undoubtedly desirable, but difficult to implement - all the studies showing that it is the French language which dominates the job market.
Schooling was also perceived as an integration factor of primary importance, with 90% of respondents thinking that children should attend Luxembourgish public schools in order to best integrate. that this school should be the Luxembourg public school.
According to ASTI, the association for migrant workers in Luxembourg, the results of this survey reflect a pragmatic attitude by both Luxembourgish and non-Luxembourgish residents towards "living together" in a highly multicultural society.
Beyond the observation that "living together" is generally going well in Luxembourg, ASTI added that the results of the survey once again demonstrate the need to live, work and decide together.
The survey was carried out between 23 September and 22 October 2019, in the framework of ASTI's 40th anniversary, with financial support from the Oeuvre Nationale de Secours Grande-Duchesse Charlotte and Fondation Weicker.
