The Economic Assimilation of Young Southern European Immigrants in the United States’ Labor Market
Submission Type
Event
Faculty Advisor
Michael Seeborg
Expected Graduation Date
2020
Location
Room E103, Center for Natural Sciences, Illinois Wesleyan University
Start Date
4-4-2020 10:45 AM
End Date
4-4-2020 11:00 AM
Disciplines
Economics | Education
Abstract
Over the past few decades, youth unemployment levels have reached all-time highs in Southern Europe. The question arises: Do Southern European youth immigrants fare better in the U.S. labor market? This study is aimed to explore the assimilation of youth immigrants from Portugal, Italy, Greece, and Spain when compared to US native youth. By analyzing differences in wages and employment, I aim to determine how well this sample of immigrants have assimilated in the United States and whether they may better off in the United States. Human capital theory suggests that since not all immigrant skills can be applied in the United States, natives will perform better than immigrants. This paper uses regression analysis and the American Community Survey (ACS) database to test the hypothesis that Southern European youth immigrants to the U.S. will have lower earnings than U.S. native youth. Surprisingly, the results suggest that youth immigrants from these four countries seem more likely to assimilate in terms of wages and have a higher probability of employment than young U.S. natives.
The Economic Assimilation of Young Southern European Immigrants in the United States’ Labor Market
Room E103, Center for Natural Sciences, Illinois Wesleyan University
Over the past few decades, youth unemployment levels have reached all-time highs in Southern Europe. The question arises: Do Southern European youth immigrants fare better in the U.S. labor market? This study is aimed to explore the assimilation of youth immigrants from Portugal, Italy, Greece, and Spain when compared to US native youth. By analyzing differences in wages and employment, I aim to determine how well this sample of immigrants have assimilated in the United States and whether they may better off in the United States. Human capital theory suggests that since not all immigrant skills can be applied in the United States, natives will perform better than immigrants. This paper uses regression analysis and the American Community Survey (ACS) database to test the hypothesis that Southern European youth immigrants to the U.S. will have lower earnings than U.S. native youth. Surprisingly, the results suggest that youth immigrants from these four countries seem more likely to assimilate in terms of wages and have a higher probability of employment than young U.S. natives.