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LABOR MARKET ASSIMILATION OF IMMIGRANTS: THE IMPORTANCE OF LANGUAGE SKILLS
Author(s) -
McMANUS WALTER S.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
contemporary economic policy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.454
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1465-7287
pISSN - 1074-3529
DOI - 10.1111/j.1465-7287.1985.tb00809.x
Subject(s) - immigration , earnings , ethnic group , demographic economics , english language , assimilation (phonology) , language proficiency , economics , political science , business , labour economics , psychology , mathematics education , linguistics , accounting , law , philosophy
The pending Immigration Reform and Control Act (Simpson‐Mazzoli) would require current illegal aliens to demonstrate minimal proficiency in English or to enroll in an English language class to attain permanent‐resident status. This paper examines the importance of English language skills in the assimilation of immigrants. Data on 1975 earnings for men from 11 language /ethnic groups are used. English skills are found to play an important role in determining the earnings of immigrant and minority‐language men in the U.S. Costs of deficiencies in English are substantial for most immigrants—more than $1,000 per year for eight of the 11 groups.