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The Effect of Undergraduate Major Choices on the Earnings of Sub-Saharan African Immigrant and Native-Born College Graduates

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  • Michael Seeborg
  • Ene Ikpebe

Abstract

A very high percentage of sub-Saharan African college-graduate immigrants in the United States have college degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines compared with native-born college graduates. This study uses a pooled cross-section (2013–2018) from the American Community Survey to compare the distribution of undergraduate majors of sub-Saharan African immigrants and native-born college graduates. We estimate ordinary least square (OLS) earnings functions that include detailed college major variables. We find that undergraduate major area of study is a significant predictor of earnings and that there is an overrepresentation of sub-Saharan African immigrants with high-paying undergraduate majors. However, after controlling for human capital differences, college-educated African immigrants have not achieved pay equity with their native-born counterparts. JEL Classifications : J61, J15, J26, I21

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Seeborg & Ene Ikpebe, 2021. "The Effect of Undergraduate Major Choices on the Earnings of Sub-Saharan African Immigrant and Native-Born College Graduates," The American Economist, Sage Publications, vol. 66(2), pages 222-240, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:amerec:v:66:y:2021:i:2:p:222-240
    DOI: 10.1177/0569434520936886
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    African immigrants; major; immigrant; college major; earnings; STEM; regression; assimilation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J26 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Retirement; Retirement Policies
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education

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