Immigrant Categories and the U.S. Job Market: Do They Make a Difference? (Urban Institute Report)

Fills a void in our understanding of the labor market consequences of legal immigration. Altering a policy dating back to 1965, the 1990 Immigration Act increased the number of visas issued to foreigners with particular employment skills and reduced the share of visas going to those who seek family unification. The Act was based on the premise that increasing visas for immigrants with special work skills would contribute to America's economic competitiveness. The authors examine the behavior and performance of different kinds of legal immigrants and the extent to which immigrants granted entry on the basis of work-related criteria have different effects on the jobs of native workers than those granted entry on the basis of family criteria.