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Earnings Performance of African Immigrants: Evidence from the American Community Survey

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  • Ene Ikpebe

    (American University)

  • Michael C. Seeborg

    (Illinois Wesleyan University)

Abstract

Although the number of African immigrants in the U.S. has increased rapidly in recent decades, relatively little regarding their economic performance and assimilation appears in the economics literature. We use pooled cross-sectional data (2011–2015) from the American Community Survey to explore the effects on African immigrant earnings of immigrant characteristics such as degrees attained, type of major, years in the U.S., citizenship status, English-speaking abilities, and country of origin. We also use earnings functions to analyze the earnings assimilation of African immigrants with natives over the past decade. The results show that college-educated African immigrants have experienced some earnings convergence with natives between 2005 and 2015. Surprisingly, the assimilation analysis of non-college graduate African immigrants shows that they have achieved an earnings advantage over native non-college graduates.

Suggested Citation

  • Ene Ikpebe & Michael C. Seeborg, 2018. "Earnings Performance of African Immigrants: Evidence from the American Community Survey," Atlantic Economic Journal, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 46(2), pages 215-230, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:atlecj:v:46:y:2018:i:2:d:10.1007_s11293-018-9583-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s11293-018-9583-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Selda Dudu, 2022. "Employability and Labor Income of Immigrants in the US: A Special Focus on the Roles of Language and Home Country Income Level," World Journal of Applied Economics, WERI-World Economic Research Institute, vol. 8(1), pages 15-34, June.
    2. Michael Seeborg & Ene Ikpebe, 2021. "The Effect of Undergraduate Major Choices on the Earnings of Sub-Saharan African Immigrant and Native-Born College Graduates," The American Economist, Sage Publications, vol. 66(2), pages 222-240, October.

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