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Are Immigrants the Most Skilled U.S. Computer and Engineering Workers?

In: US High-Skilled Immigration in the Global Economy

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  • Jennifer Hunt

Abstract

Using the American Community Surveys, I examine the wages of immigrant computer and engineering workers. Immigrants' higher education gives them a wage advantage over natives, an advantage larger for computer than for engineering workers, and larger in occupation-based samples than in education-based samples. Among holders of engineering degrees, immigrants earn less than natives, penalized by a high return to English proficiency. The results suggest that imperfect English may reduce their occupational advancement, or an unobserved factor may reduce both occupational advancement and the incentive to perfect English. In all samples, top immigrants from the highest-income countries far outearn top natives.
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Suggested Citation

  • Jennifer Hunt, 2012. "Are Immigrants the Most Skilled U.S. Computer and Engineering Workers?," NBER Chapters, in: US High-Skilled Immigration in the Global Economy, pages 39-77, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberch:13241
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