1. Immigrants at Work: The Intersection of Gender and Entry Visas on Employment and Work Hours

• In Event: 1239 - Immigration and Gender

Abstract

Gender biases in immigration policy preference males over females in skilled immigration categories. Thus, men have historically been viewed as primary applicants and our understanding of immigration policy and labor market outcomes has been understood from the perspective of male migrants. Drawing on 2011, 2013, and 2015 data from Survey of College Graduates, this study examines two questions: how do immigrants’ entry visas affect their employment among educated migrants? Does this relationship differ by gender? I find that entry visas have an enduring effect on immigrants’ employment behavior as temporary work and student visa holders have greater employment outcomes than permanent residents. However, this effect varies drastically by gender. Even immigrant females and males entering on the same entry visas exhibit different employment behavior. Immigrant women who arrive as dependents are especially disadvantaged in their labor force participation, but not work hours. My findings have important implications for immigration policy showing that selecting immigrants on their skill may not produce the same employment and labor market outcomes for men and women. Additionally, US immigration policy may consider how restrictions placed on spousal visas are detrimental to immigrant women’s employment trajectories.

Author

• Rennie Lee, University of Queensland