uneven progress: the employment pathways of skilled

Uneven Progress:The Employment Pathways of Skilled Immigrants

in the United States

Jeanne Batalova & Michael Fix

Migration Policy Institute

October 22, 2008

Points of DeparturePoints of Departure

• Baby boom retirement

• No growth in native labor force

• Global competition

• Demographic importance

• Integration: lack of attention

MPI Study: Raising Important Questions

• What is the extent of brain waste in the United States?

• What are the barriers college-educated immigrants experience that limit their full economic contribution?

• How can these barriers be removed?

Major Findings…

• More than 1.3 million college-educated immigrants are unemployed or working in unskilled jobs.

• 22% of all college-educated immigrants – or 1 out of every 5 highly skilled immigrants – are working in unskilled jobs (e.g., construction laborers, babysitters, file clerks, etc.)

• Another 22% are in semi-skilled jobs (e.g., carpenters, electricians, massage therapists, etc.)

• 44% recent Mexican and Central American skilled immigrants, are working in unskilled jobs.

Brain waste is a realityBrain waste + brain drain = Worst policy outcome

Skilled Immigrant Integration in the US: Skilled Immigrant Integration in the US: Why Should Society Care?Why Should Society Care?

• Leverages foreign-funded educational investments

• Maximizes the skill use of immigrants already in the country

• Raises worker productivity, increases tax yields, and decreases reliance on public benefits

• Helps US compete for global talent

• Creates a new generation of immigrant leadership

• Increases economic and social remittances to migrant-sending countries

Skilled Immigrant Integration in the US: Skilled Immigrant Integration in the US: Why Should Employers Care?Why Should Employers Care?

• US companies are losing their competitive edge in an increasingly globalized world because they can’t recruit hard-to-find talent

• Canada, Australia, and Europe are already addressing licensing/credentialing issues and investing in attracting highly skilled immigrants

• Impending Baby Boomer retirement and need to plan for next-generation workforce

Skilled Immigrants in the United States

Skilled Immigrants as Professionals and Innovators

About 6 million college-educated immigrants in US labor force (2005-2006):• 30% of all immigrants (vs. 21% in 1990)• 15% of all college-educated (vs. 8% in 1990)

Among employed, skilled immigrants are:• 1 in 4 physicians • 1 in 2 medical scientists • 1 in 3 computer specialists• 1 in 5 postsecondary teachers

Source: Batalova & Fix. Uneven Progress: The Employment Trajectories of Skilled Immigrants in the United States (MPI 2008).

Skilled Immigrants as Professionals and Innovators

Immigrants in the United States have accounted for:

26% of US Nobel recipients from 1990 to 2000

25% of founders of public venture-backed US companies in 1990 to 2005

25% of founders of new high-tech companies with $1M+ in sales in 2006

Source: Hunt & Gauthier-Loiselle, How Much Does Immigration Boost Innovation? (NBER, 2008).

The US Immigration Process

US Immigration SystemUS Immigration System

Temporary Admissions

Foreign nationals are admittedtemporarily to engage in a certainactivity:

Work StudyTourismInvestment

Permanent Admissions

Foreign nationals are admitted for permanent residency:

Employment sponsorshipFamily reunificationHumanitarian protectionDiversity (Green card lottery)

Some skilled immigrants come on employment-based permanent and temporary (H-1B, L-1, O-1, F-1) visas…

US Immigration SystemUS Immigration System

Temporary Admissions

Foreign nationals are admittedtemporarily to engage in a certainactivity:

Work StudyTourismInvestment

Permanent Admissions

Foreign nationals are admitted for permanent residency:

Employment sponsorshipFamily reunificationHumanitarian protectionDiversity (Green card lottery)

…others come as family immigrants and refugees.

Study Questions

• What are the employment outcomes for skilled immigrants?

• Do they vary by country of origin and route to permanent residency?

• Is downward mobility inevitable for all newly arrived skilled immigrants? For how long?

• How does the US compare in its integration of skilled immigrants to Canada and Europe?

• What are the opportunities for private and public actors?

MPI Studied . . . MPI Studied . . .

• College-educated immigrants: unemployed or in unskilled jobs

• Unskilled jobs: require no more than modest on-the-job training

• Datasets with unique strengths: -- American Community Survey (ACS) -- New Immigrant Survey (NIS)

MPI Analyzed . . . MPI Analyzed . . .

2005-2006 American Community Survey:• Large sample of all immigrants• Country/region of origin • Time spent in the US • Place of education (proxy measure)• English proficiency • Comparison to college-educated US-born workers

2003 New Immigrant Survey:• Sample: only legal permanent residents• Migration history• Occupation/employment before and after arrival to the US• Place of education (direct measure)• Route to permanent residency

Higher Unemployment Rates: Higher Unemployment Rates: Recent Arrivals and African BornRecent Arrivals and African Born

Percentage of the College Educated Who Are Unemployed*

Notes: *Among foreign-educated, “recent” refers to immigrants who came to the US ten or fewer years ago, while “long-term”refers to immigrants who have been in the US for 11 years or longer. “US educated” are immigrants who have at least a BA degree and who came to the US before age 25. **”Europe” refers to Europe, Canada, and Oceania.Source: 2005-2006 ACS analysis from Batalova & Fix, Uneven Progress: The Employment Trajectories of Skilled Immigrants in the United States (MPI 2008).

3.74.1

3.4

4.8 5.0

6.0

3.6

2.6

4.4

3.43.9 4.1

3.43.1

2.8

US born All immigrants Foreign-edu immigrantsRecent Long term US educated

Europe** Asia Lat. America Africa

Skilled Immigrants as Skilled Immigrants as Taxi Drivers, Maids, and CashiersTaxi Drivers, Maids, and Cashiers

Percentage of the College Educated in Unskilled Jobs*


2225

19 20

33

23

35

22

14

25

18

44

17 1618



MARYLAND: One in Five CollegeMARYLAND: One in Five College--EducatedEducatedImmigrants is in Unskilled JobImmigrants is in Unskilled Job

Percentage of the College Educated in Unskilled Jobs in Maryland*


1923

20

43 41

26 27

10

14 1215

11

16

22

15



US Degree Matters US Degree Matters

Notes: LPRs are legal permanent residents, i.e., persons with permission to reside in the United States permanently, to work legally, and to become US citizens after residing for at least five years and passing a citizenship test. *“Not employed” is defined here as being either out of the civilian labor force or unemployed. Source: New Immigrant Survey, 2003 from Batalova & Fix, Uneven Progress: The Employment Trajectories of Skilled Immigrants in the United States (MPI 2008).

27

4351

22

17

2317

9

17

15 7

11

38

20 25

59

Before entry At the NIS interview Before entry At the NIS interview

High Skilled

Skilled technical

Unskilled

Not employed*

Foreign-educated LPRs US-educated LPRs

Occupational TransitionsOccupational Transitionsby Admission Category*by Admission Category*

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

3.00

Job Abroad First US Job Current US Job

Inde

x

Employment: statusadjusters (15%)

Employment: newarrivals (7%)

Family: status adjusters(28%)

Family: new arrivals(21%)

Refugee: statusadjusters (6%)

Diversity: all (13%)

Legalized/Others: all(9%)

Notes: *The percentages shown for each of the admission category represent the share of a given category of the NIS sample of the foreign-educated legal permanent residents who received their green cards in 2003. The green card gives a permission to reside in the United States permanently, to work legally, and to become US citizens after residing for at least five years and passing a citizenship test. Source: 2003 New Immigrant Survey analysis from Batalova & Fix, Uneven Progress: The Employment Trajectories of Skilled Immigrants in the United States (MPI 2008).

Unskilled jobs

High-skilled jobs

Foreign-educated green-card holders

Brain Waste in the United States:Brain Waste in the United States:Risk FactorsRisk Factors

• Lacking English skills• Having only foreign degree• Not working in the US prior to permanent settlement• Entering under nonemployment visa category • Coming from Latin America or Africa• Experiences periods of unauthorized residence• Lacking US professional and social networks

• Facing institutional barriers:-- Nonrecognition of foreign-earned credentials-- Lack of quality English classes teaching work-related language

Brain Waste in the United States: Brain Waste in the United States: Public and Private Response Public and Private Response

Immigrant integrationBusiness level• Incorporating language training into in-house communications skills training programs

State level• State workforce agency partnerships with other stakeholders• Mentorship and internship programs• Accredited work-skills training and English language programs• Effective bridge programs that serve immigrants and employers

Spillover benefits to other groups of workers

National level• Funding for innovative/successful programs• Information sharing

Brain Waste in the United States:Brain Waste in the United States:Rethinking AdmissionRethinking Admission

Immigrant admissionTransitional visas• are an opportunity for both employers and prospective foreign workers

to “test the waters”• give foreign workers the right to self-petition for permanent residence• introduce transparency in the process of switching between

“temporary” and “permanent” statuses

Standing Commission on Labor Markets and Immigration• analyzes local and regional labor-market needs, trends, worker-supply

chains, and the effects of recent immigration flows• makes regular recommendations to Congress and the President for

adjusting immigration levels• introduces flexibility and responsiveness into the system regarding

future needs and trends

Further MPI ResourcesFurther MPI Resources

* Batalova, J., and M. Fix. 2008. Uneven Progress: The Employment Trajectories of Skilled Immigrants in the United States, www.migrationpolicy.org/pubs/BrainWasteOct08.pdf

* Meissner, D., et al. 2006. Immigration and America's Future: A New Chapter, Final report of the Independent Task Force, www.migrationpolicy.org/ITFIAF/index.php

* Papademetriou, D., et al. 2007. Proposed Points System and Its Likely Impact on Prospective Immigrants, www.migrationpolicy.org/pubs/PointsSystem_051807.pdf

* Fix, M., et al. 2008. Los Angeles on the Leading Edge: Immigrant Integration Indicators and Their Policy Implications, www.migrationpolicy.org/pubs/NCIIP_Los_Angeles_on_the_Leading_Edge.pdf

* Terrazas, A., and M. Fix. 2008. Gambling on the Future: Managing the Education Challenges of Rapid Growth in Nevada, www.migrationpolicy.org/pubs/NCIIP_Nevada.pdf

* Collett, E. 2008. The Proposed European Blue Card System: Arming for the Global War for Talent? www.migrationinformation.org/Feature/display.cfm?ID=667

* Fix, M., and N. Kaushal. 2006. The Contributions of High-Skilled Immigrants www.migrationpolicy.org/ITFIAF/TF16_Kaushal.pdf

* Batalova, J. 2007. The “Brain Gain” Race Begins with Foreign Students, www.migrationinformation.org/Feature/display.cfm?ID=571

Find reports and other analysis at a state and national level at:

www.migrationpolicy.org

For More InformationFor More Information

Get quick immigration facts, maps, and stats at:

www.migrationpolicy.org/datahub

Jeanne [email protected]

Michael [email protected]

© Migration Policy Institute, 2008. All rights reserved.

http://www.migrationpolicy.org

http://www.migrationpolicy.org/datahub

CALIFORNIA: One in Five CollegeCALIFORNIA: One in Five College--EducatedEducatedImmigrants in Unskilled JobImmigrants in Unskilled Job

Percentage of the College Educated in Unskilled Jobs in California*


2225

14

24

44

28

37

22

16

27

17

22

15 1317



NEW YORK: One in Five CollegeNEW YORK: One in Five College--EducatedEducatedImmigrants in Unskilled JobImmigrants in Unskilled Job

Percentage of the College Educated in Unskilled Jobs in New York*

Notes: *Among foreign-educated, “recent” refers to immigrants who came to the US ten or fewer years ago, while “long-term”refers to immigrants who have been in the US for 11 years or longer. “US educated” are immigrants who have at least a BA degree and who came to the US before age 25. **”Europe” refers to Europe, Canada, and Oceania.Source: 2005-2006 ACS analysis from Batalova & Fix Uneven Progress: The Employment Trajectories of Skilled Immigrants in the United States (MPI 2008).

2226

2024

38

24

31

2522

17

29

22

17 1816



ILLINOIS: One in Four CollegeILLINOIS: One in Four College--EducatedEducatedImmigrants in Unskilled JobImmigrants in Unskilled Job

Percentage of the College Educated in Unskilled Jobs in Illinois*

Notes: *Among foreign-educated, “recent” refers to immigrants who came to the US ten or fewer years ago, while “long-term”refers to immigrants who have been in the US for 11 years or longer. “US educated” are immigrants who have at least a BA degree and who came to the US before age 25. **”Europe” refers to Europe, Canada, and Oceania. Data for African born was insufficient. Source: 2005-2006 ACS analysis from Batalova & Fix, Uneven Progress: The Employment Trajectories of Skilled Immigrants in the United States (MPI 2008).

2427 29

2421

32

14

34

18

57

2219


Europe** Asia Lat. America

ImmigrantsImmigrants’’ Share: 15 Occupations Share: 15 Occupations With Fastest Growth, 2004With Fastest Growth, 2004--1414

Source: MPI’s tabulations of ACS 2005 & BLS Projections, 2004-2014; *At least an Associate’s degree required.

6%7%

9%10%

13%13%14%15%15%

19%20%21%

23%35%

46%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%

Dental Hygienists*

Occupational Therapists*

Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides

Medical Assistants

Network and Comp. Systems Administrators*

Physician Assistants*

Physical Therapists*

Dental Assistants

Network Systems, Data Commun. Analysts*

Nursing, Psychiatric, and Home Health Aides

Postsecondary Teachers*

Database Administrators*

Personal and Home Care Aides

Computer Software Engineers*

Medical Scientists*

Job Growth, 2004-2014 (in thousands)

Immigrants' share in US labor force (2005) = 15%

2636928740

525676126115

5631

107202

413168

uneven progress: the employment pathways of skilled

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