Abstract Based on two ethnographic studies on the experiences of high-skilled migrants in Denmark, we argue that it is problematic to presume a simple correlation between ‘deskilling’ and what is often regarded as low-status jobs. We claim that many of these migrants are, albeit discreetly, actively gaining new skills and knowledge through low-status jobs not related to their qualifications and/or utilising their existing knowledge and skills in their everyday lives. We approach skills as a social construct that differs according to context and under particular historical circumstances, not merely as a neutral, measurable and easily transferable human capital. The article offers critical analysis of simultaneous processes of skilling–deskilling–reskilling–upskilling linked to migration and generates new insights into debates on highly educated migrants in a Nordic context.

中文翻译：

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动脑和“除技能”问题：

摘要基于两项关于丹麦高技能移民经验的人种学研究，我们认为，假设“学习”与通常被视为低地位的工作之间存在简单的联系是有问题的。我们声称，尽管谨慎，这些移民中的许多人正在通过与身份无关的低地位工作和/或在日常生活中利用现有的知识和技能积极地获取新的技能和知识。我们视技能为一种社会构造，视情况和在特定的历史情况下而有所不同，而不仅仅是作为中立，可测量且易于转移的人力资本。