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Economic impact of STEM immigrant workers

Author

Listed:
  • Baum, Christopher F

    (Boston College, DIW Berlin, and Centre of Excellence for Science and Innovation Studies (CESIS))

  • Lööf, Hans

    (Centre of Excellence for Science and Innovation Studies (CESIS), Royal Institute of Technology)

  • Stephan, Andreas

    (Jönköping University, DIW Berlin, and Centre of Excellence for Science and Innovation Studies (CESIS))

Abstract

STEM-focused industries are critical to the innovation-driven economy. As many firms are running short of STEM workers, international immigrants are increasingly recognized as a potential for high-tech job recruitment. This paper studies STEM occupations in Sweden 2011–2015 and tests hypotheses on new recruitment and the economic impact of foreign STEM workers. The empirical analysis shows that the probability that a new employee is a STEM immigrant increases with the share of STEM immigrants already employed, while the marginal effect on average firm wages is positively associated with the share of immigrant STEM workers. We also document heterogeneity in the results, suggesting that European migrants are more attractive for new recruitment, but non-EU migrants have the largest impact on wage determination.

Suggested Citation

  • Baum, Christopher F & Lööf, Hans & Stephan, Andreas, 2018. "Economic impact of STEM immigrant workers," Working Paper Series in Economics and Institutions of Innovation 472, Royal Institute of Technology, CESIS - Centre of Excellence for Science and Innovation Studies.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:cesisp:0472
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    STEM; migration; employment; wages; correlated random effects;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
    • O14 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Industrialization; Manufacturing and Service Industries; Choice of Technology
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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