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English Proficiency and Labour Supply of Immigrants in Australia

Author

Listed:
  • Vincent Law

    (The Australian National University (ANU) - Crawford School of Public Policy)

Abstract

This paper explores the impact of English proficiency on the labour supply of recent immigrants in Australia. While previous research finds that English proficiency is crucial for participation and employment of immigrants, almost no research, and none in Australia, has been done with respect to hours worked by immigrants. The number of hours worked by immigrants is a strong indicator of economic wellbeing. This study uses the second cohort of the Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Australia data to estimate a Chamberlain style Tobit random effects estimator. The results suggest a positive relationship between English proficiency and hours worked by immigrants.

Suggested Citation

  • Vincent Law, 2011. "English Proficiency and Labour Supply of Immigrants in Australia," Crawford School Research Papers 1112, Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University.
  • Handle: RePEc:een:crwfrp:1112
    as

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    File URL: http://www.crawford.anu.edu.au/pdf/crwf_ssrn/crwfrp_1112.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Paul W. Miller, 1986. "Immigrant Unemployment in the First Year of Australian Labour Market Activity," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 62(1), pages 82-87, March.
    2. Deborah A. Cobb‐Clark & Marie D. Connolly, 2001. "A Family Affair: The Labor Market Experience of Immigrant Spouses," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 82(4), pages 796-811, December.
    3. Miller, Paul W, 1986. "Immigrant Unemployment in the First Year of Australian Labour Market Activity," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 62(176), pages 82-87, March.
    4. McManus, Walter & Gould, William & Welch, Finis, 1983. "Earnings of Hispanic Men: The Role of English Language Proficiency," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 1(2), pages 101-130, April.
    5. Kossoudji, Sherrie A, 1988. "English Language Ability and the Labor Market Opportunities of Hispanic and East Asian Immigrant Men," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 6(2), pages 205-228, April.
    6. Inglis, Paul A & Stromback, Thorsten, 1986. "Migrants' Unemployment: The Determinants of Employment Success," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 62(178), pages 310-324, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Cited by:

    1. Jeromey Temple & Tom Wilson & Bianca Brijnath & Ariane Utomo & Peter McDonald, 2022. "English Language Proficiency Among Older Migrants in Australia, 2016–2046," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 23(2), pages 403-429, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Labour Supply; English Proficiency; Australian Immigration; Australian Immigrants;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • C34 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Truncated and Censored Models; Switching Regression Models
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply

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