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Do Immigrants Work in Worse Jobs than U.S. Natives? Evidence from California

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  • Zavodny, Madeline

    (University of North Florida)

Abstract

In the debate over immigration reform, it is frequently asserted that immigrants take jobs that U.S. natives do not want. Using data from the 2000 Census merged with O*NET data on occupation characteristics, I show that the jobs held by immigrants are more physically arduous than the jobs held by U.S. natives. However, data from the California Work and Health Survey on self-reported physical job demands indicate that immigrants do not perceive their jobs as requiring more physical effort than U.S. natives. Immigrants thus have worse jobs than natives but do not view them as such.

Suggested Citation

  • Zavodny, Madeline, 2014. "Do Immigrants Work in Worse Jobs than U.S. Natives? Evidence from California," IZA Discussion Papers 8327, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp8327
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    1. Alberto Dávila & Marie T. Mora & Rebecca González, 2011. "English-Language Proficiency and Occupational Risk Among Hispanic Immigrant Men in the United States," Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(2), pages 263-296, April.
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    6. Gordon H. Hanson, 2006. "Illegal Migration from Mexico to the United States," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 44(4), pages 869-924, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Constant, Amelie F. & García-Muñoz, Teresa & Neuman, Shoshana & Neuman, Tzahi, 2014. "Micro and Macro Determinants of Health: Older Immigrants in Europe," IZA Discussion Papers 8754, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Bossavie,Laurent Loic Yves & Garrote Sanchez,Daniel & Makovec,Mattia & Ozden,Caglar, 2021. "Occupational Hazards : Migrants and the Economic and Health Risks of COVID-19 in Western Europe," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9873, The World Bank.
    3. Michael A. Clemens, 2022. "The effect of seasonal work visas on native employment: Evidence from US farm work in the Great Recession," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(5), pages 1348-1374, November.
    4. Christian Gunadi, 2020. "Immigration and the Health of U.S. Natives," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 86(4), pages 1278-1306, April.
    5. Cynthia Bansak & Sarah Pearlman & Chad Sparber, 2025. "The impact of Secure Communities on the labor market outcomes of immigrant women," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 44(3), pages 917-942, June.
    6. Jorge González Chapela, 2018. "Physical Work Intensity and the Split Workday: Theory and Evidence from Spain," Journal of Labor Research, Springer, vol. 39(3), pages 329-353, September.
    7. W. David Allen, 2024. "Strategic employment of immigrant and native workers: Was the green card lottery a game changer?," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 45(1), pages 428-445, January.
    8. Aydemir, Abdurrahman B. & Öztek, Abdullah Selim, 2025. "The Impact of Refugees on Crime: Evidence from Syrian Influx in Türkiye by Nativity of Perpetrators and Victims," IZA Discussion Papers 17885, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    9. Osea Giuntella, 2020. "Do immigrants improve the health of native workers?," IZA World of Labor, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), pages 102-102, December.
    10. Clemens, Michael A., 2017. "The Effect of Occupational Visas on Native Employment: Evidence from Labor Supply to Farm Jobs in the Great Recession," IZA Discussion Papers 10492, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    11. Vincent Vandenberghe, 2025. "In Europe, Arduous Jobs Fall on First-Generation Migrants: But Later Generations Benefit from Improved Opportunities," De Economist, Springer, vol. 173(3), pages 425-448, September.
    12. Nivorozhkin, Anton & Poeschel, Friedrich, 2022. "Working conditions in essential occupations and the role of migrants," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 250-261.
    13. Chad Sparber & Madeline Zavodny, 2022. "Immigration, Working Conditions, and Compensating Differentials," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 75(4), pages 1054-1081, August.
    14. Zhao, Jing & Shangguan, Yiwen & Li, Qinghai, 2025. "Better late than never: The impact of hukou conversion experience on employment quality with urban residents in China," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 286-302.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J81 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Standards - - - Working Conditions
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination

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