Previous research based on 2011 census data indicated rising levels of residential segregation between socio-economic groups in many large cities in Europe and globally, contributing to the formulation of the Global Segregation Thesis. Income inequality was identified as the primary driver of this segregation. The current paper extends comparative research on residential segregation in Europe by incorporating the latest data from the 2021 census round to determine whether segregation levels continued to rise, have peaked, or show signs of desegregation. It also examines how changes in segregation align with shifts in income inequality and occupational structures. A comparative analysis of 16 European capital cities shows a slowdown in the rise of segregation, with some cities transitioning from segregation to desegregation. These changes coincide with both a slowdown in the growth of income inequality and increased professionalisation of the workforce. The study suggests that future research should focus on the mechanisms driving residential desegregation in different urban contexts, with particular attention to the diversification of residential patterns among the expanding professional class.
