Effects of occupational license access on undocumented immigrants evidence from the California reform

Bobby W. Chung ()
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Bobby W. Chung: University of South Florida

Journal of Regulatory Economics, 2024, vol. 65, issue 1, No 3, 64-83

Abstract: Abstract In 2014, California lifted its legal work status requirement for dozens of occupational licenses - a major obstacle for undocumented immigrants in the US to access professional jobs. This paper assesses this policy’s effects on the employment outcome of undocumented immigrants in the state . Analyzing likely undocumented immigrants in the American Community Survey, I find that the policy increased their employment, particularly in lower-education and blue-collar licensed occupations and for older and Hispanic workers. The effects were not driven by job switchers but by the unemployed transiting into employment. I also find that the law did not crowd out documented workers.

Keywords: Occupational licensing; Undocumented immigrants; Employment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J15 J44 K37 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1007/s11149-023-09468-9

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