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Immigrants and the Labor Market

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  • James P. Smith

    (RAND Corporation)

Abstract

This article examines skill gaps between immigrants and native-born Americans and generational progress achieved by different immigrant ethnic groups. Evidence of a widening skill gap is not strong. While wage data show a pronounced fall in relative wages of "recent" immigrants, significant independent contributors to that decline are a widening age gap and the increasing price of skill. When attention shifts to legal migrants, the evidence is that legal migrants are, at a minimum, keeping up with native-born Americans. I find that the concern that educational generational progress among Latino immigrants has lagged behind other immigrant ethnic groups is unfounded.

Suggested Citation

  • James P. Smith, 2006. "Immigrants and the Labor Market," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 24(2), pages 203-234, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jlabec:v:24:y:2006:i:2:p:203-234
    DOI: 10.1086/499971
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    References listed on IDEAS

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