Age at Immigrant Arrival and Career Mobility: Evidence from Vietnamese Refugee Migration and the Amerasian Homecoming Act

Sari Pekkala Kerr, William Kerr and Kendall E. Smith

No 32067, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: We study the long-run career mobility of young immigrants, mostly refugees, from Vietnam who moved to the United States during 1989-1995. This third and final migration wave of young Vietnamese immigrants was sparked by unexpected events that culminated in the Amerasian Homecoming Act. Characteristics of the wave also minimized selection effects regarding who migrated. Small differences in the age at arrival, specifically being 14-17 years old on entry compared to 18-21, resulted in substantial differences in future economic outcomes. Using Census Bureau data, we characterize the different career profiles of young vs. older immigrants, and we quantify explanatory factors like education, language fluency, and persistence from initial employers.

JEL-codes: F22 J15 J44 J61 J71 L26 M13 M51 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-his, nep-int, nep-lab, nep-mig, nep-sea, nep-tra and nep-ure
Note: DAE LS PE PR
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