2005-05-01-皮尤-Latino_Labor_Report,_2004_25页_124kb

Latino Labor Report, 2004: More Jobs for New Immigrants but at Lower Wages

Core Content

This report, Latino Labor Report, 2004: More Jobs for New Immigrants but at Lower Wages, by Rakesh Kochhar of the Pew Hispanic Center, analyzes the labor market outcomes for Hispanic and immigrant workers from the fourth quarter of 2003 to the fourth quarter of 2004. It highlights the significant employment gains for Latinos but also points to a decline in wages, particularly for recently arrived immigrants.

Main Findings

• Employment Growth:

  • Hispanic employment increased by 1 million workers (6%) in 2004.
  • Non-Hispanic employment increased by 1.5 million workers (1.2%).
  • The Hispanic unemployment rate dropped from 7.6% in 2002 to 6.5% in 2004, closing the gap with non-Hispanics to the smallest since 2000.
  • The employment-to-population ratio for Hispanics improved slightly, reaching 64.3% in 2004, the first consistent improvement in five years.

• Immigrant Contributions:

  • Recently arrived Hispanic immigrants (2000 or later) added 914,000 jobs in 2004, accounting for 88% of the total increase in Latino employment.
  • These immigrants also contributed to a large increase in the labor force, adding 955,000 workers.
  • In contrast, native-born Hispanic workers saw a smaller increase in employment (245,000), while non-Hispanic immigrants (2000 or later) added 307,000 workers to the labor force and 275,000 to employment.

• Occupational Trends:

  • The majority of new jobs for both native-born and foreign-born Latinos were in low-skill occupations requiring minimal formal education.
  • Only 12% of new jobs for native-born Latinos required a college degree or more, compared to 64% for native-born non-Hispanics.
  • Hispanics are concentrated in certain low-skill occupations, such as plasterers and stucco masons, which are not major sources of employment for native-born workers.

• Wage Trends:

  • Real weekly earnings for Hispanics declined by 2.2% in 2003 and another 2.6% in 2004.
  • This was the first time in a decade that a major group of workers experienced a two-year decline in wages.
  • Recently arrived Hispanic immigrants saw the largest wage decline in 2004 (2.6%), reflecting their concentration in low-wage sectors.
  • Non-Hispanic white and black workers saw wage declines in 2004, but Asian workers were the only group to see wage increases in both years.

Key Insights

• Economic Recovery:

  • The 2004 economic recovery added jobs for both Hispanics and non-Hispanics, but it did little to close the occupational gap between them.
  • Job growth occurred in different occupational clusters, with Hispanics and whites on separate labor market paths.

• Labor Force Participation:

  • The labor force participation rate for Hispanics remained low compared to 2000, despite some improvement.
  • Non-Hispanic participation rates also declined, suggesting a lack of confidence in the labor market.

• Immigration Impact:

  • The demand for immigrant labor, particularly from Latin America, remained high.
  • Immigrant flows continued to play a major role in employment growth, especially in construction, hospitality, and health services.

• Challenges for Hispanics:

  • Despite employment gains, the concentration of Hispanics in low-skill jobs led to reduced earnings.
  • The report suggests that the new immigrants are competing with each other in the labor market, which may be detrimental to their wages.

Conclusion

The 2004 labor market showed progress for Hispanic workers, particularly in reducing unemployment. However, this progress was accompanied by a decline in wages, especially for recently arrived immigrants, due to their overrepresentation in low-skill occupations. The report also highlights the role of immigrant labor in driving employment growth, while emphasizing the ongoing challenges in achieving wage parity with non-Hispanic workers.