Religion, Social Connections and Success: Explaining the Employment Achievements of New Immigrants in the United States

• In Event: 212 - Section on Inequality, Poverty and Mobility Roundtables (one-hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 04. Immigration and Inequality

Abstract

Existing literature highlights human and social capital important factors contributing to the economic success of new immigrants. However, most research has failed to examine how and why the immigrant came to the U.S. for its relevance to employment achievements. This study uses data from the New Immigrant Survey to look at the factors contributing to economic success of new legal permanent residents (LPRs). It uses two-stage instrumental variable models to examine the complex causal relationships between human capital, participation in co-ethnically dense religious organizations, other forms of social capital, and the annual wage of immigrants. Special consideration is given to the social connections and resources afforded by certain types of entry, such as entry on an employment visa. In examining the social resources available to a nationally representative sample of new LPRs we find an important, but complex role for participation in co-ethnically dense religious organizations where immigrants entering on a non-employment visa are more likely to make use of the social resources provided by religious participation. By better understanding the effects of an immigrant’s entry circumstances on their U.S. employment experiences, we will be better understand the complex role of social networks of support in economic integration.

Authors

• Yvette Young, University of Utah

• Julie Stewart, Westminster College