2008-10-01-皮尤-Sharp_Decline_in_Income_for_Non-Citizen_Immigrant_Households,_2006-2007_16页_432kb

Summary of "Sharp Decline in Income for Non-Citizen Immigrant Households, 2006-2007"

Core Content

This report, authored by Rakesh Kochhar of the Pew Hispanic Center, analyzes the income trends of non-citizen immigrant households in the United States from 2006 to 2007. It highlights the significant impact of the economic slowdown on this group, contrasting their experiences with those of the general U.S. population.

Key Findings

• Median Income Decline: The median annual income of non-citizen immigrant households fell by 7.3% from 2006 to 2007, compared to a 1.3% increase for all U.S. households.
• Non-Citizen Households as a Group: Non-citizen households account for 52% of all immigrant households and 7% of all U.S. households.
• Income Volatility: Non-citizen households have shown greater income instability over the past decade, with sharp increases during economic expansions and sudden drops during slowdowns.
• Most Affected Groups:
  • Hispanic households: Experienced the largest drop in income, with a 7.5% decline in 2007.
  • Immigrants from Mexico, other Latin American countries, and the Caribbean: Suffered significant income losses.
  • Recently arrived immigrants: Suffered a 11.8% drop in income.
  • Unmarried males: Non-citizen male householders without a spouse saw the highest income loss at 9.5% for family households and 8.4% for non-family households.
  • Low educational attainment: Households led by non-citizens with less than a high school education had a 12.5% drop, while those with a bachelor’s degree or more saw a 5.4% increase.
  • Occupations: Those in construction, production, and service sectors faced the steepest income declines.

Methodology

• Data Sources: The report uses data from the Current Population Survey (CPS), a monthly survey of about 55,000 U.S. households conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau for the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• Estimates: The Pew Hispanic Center developed its own estimates of income changes by principal characteristics (such as ethnicity, region of origin, education level, and occupation), as the Census Bureau does not provide such detailed breakdowns.

Context and Trends

• Economic Impact: The decline in non-citizen household incomes is attributed to the decline in construction and related industries, which led to a significant loss of jobs and a rise in unemployment rates.
• Historical Comparison: From 1998 to 2007, non-citizen households experienced income fluctuations that were far more pronounced than the general U.S. population. The most recent drop in 2007 was the sharpest in this period.
• Hypothetical Example: A household that earned $30,000 in 1997 saw its income drop to $32,414 in 2007, representing an 11.7% decrease from the peak in 2000.

Conclusion

The report underscores the greater vulnerability of non-citizen immigrant households to economic downturns due to their demographic and occupational characteristics. These include a high proportion of low-skilled workers, limited educational attainment, and dependence on sectors like construction, which were heavily impacted by the economic slowdown. The findings suggest that these groups are more likely to be undocumented immigrants, further highlighting the economic challenges they face in the U.S. labor market.