Immigrant persons compose a large share of the United States labor force. In the 1990’s one out of every two new workers was an immigrant. Many, however, did not speak English or have strong academic credentials and skills (Capps, 1). In this article you will read about the immigrant persons’ skills position in America, what their occupational choices are, and a non-profit organization that helps immigrant persons acquire skills.
“The nation’s workforce development and training policies are now being reconsidered as employers look for more ways to raise workers’ skills. Further, the reauthorization of the 1998 Workforce Investment Act (WIA) – the largest source of federal funding for job training, adult basic education, and English as a second language (ESL) instruction – would give states and providers more incentives to serve limited English proficient (LEP) populations and encourage programs to combine adult education, ESL and job-training services if proposals now on the table are adopted.” (Capps, 1).
There are two major occupation groups where immigrant workers represent an especially large share of the total United States labor force: private household services (42 percent are immigrants), and farming, forestry, and fishing (37 percent). The share is even higher for low-wage immigrant workers at 44 percent each. Only 6 percent of all immigrant workers and 10 percent of low-wage immigrant workers hold jobs in these occupations. Other occupations that have low-wage immigrant workers include; precision production, crafts and repair, machine operators and assemblers, and administrative support. Unlike the previous major occupation groups, there can be higher wages in these groups and ample worker-training opportunities (Capps,1).
“A recent study by economist Todd Schoellman analyzed the connection between immigrants’ skills and their occupational choices. He defined skills broadly in terms of education, training and experience, cognitive ability, physical skills, and language and communication skills. Immigrant persons are more likely than natives to work in manual occupations that are intensive in physical ability skills; immigrant persons are also more likely than natives to work in occupations that are intensive in cognitive ability, particularly in science and engineering. In contrast, natives are more likely to work in communications-intensive occupations, such as management, and in experience-and training-intensive occupations, such as repair services. Another study by economists Giovanni Peri and Chad Sparber found that highly educated immigrant persons specialize in occupations that require quantitative and analytical skills, while highly educated natives specialize in occupations that require interactive and communication skills.” (Martinek, 2).
“An employer can request permission to bring in a qualified foreign worker in certain professions based on job skills and education level if the employer cannot find a qualified United States worker to take the job first.” (AIC, 3). For the entire United States, only 5,000 green cards are available for all lower-skilled workers per year. “The demand for workers in the service sectors has grown considerably while the supply of available United States workers has steadily diminished.” (AIC, 3). Approximately 20 percent of foreign-born workers are present in industries such as construction, food service, and agriculture.
Finally, an example of empowerment through skill is demonstrated by Encuentro. This is a non-profit education and advocacy group in Albuquerque for Latino immigrant persons that does community leadership training and offers classes in English as a second language, GED preparation, parenting, computer, and financial literacy. They partner with organizations such as the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center and Prosperity Works. Encuentro-sponsored programs aim to empower Spanish-speaking immigrant persons with skills and knowledge that can help broaden their job prospects and improve their lives. (Robinson-Avila, 4).
BIBLIOGRAPHY
- Capps, Randolph, Fix, Michael E., Passel, Jefferey S., Ost, Jason, Perez- Lopez, Dan. “A Profile of the Low-Wage Immigrant Workforce.” www.urban.org
- Martinek, Christopher J., Hernández-Murillo, Rubén. “Immigrants: Skills, Occupations, and Locations.” www.stlouisfed.org
- AIC, American Immigration Council. “Why don’t they just get in line?” www.immigrationpolicy.org
- Robinson-Avila, “Empowerment Through Skill: Non-profit Promotes Skills for Immigrants.” www.abqjournal.com