Comparing Demographic and Labor-Market Characteristics of New Jersey and U.S. Foreign Born

Abstract

Investigates the demographic & labor market characteristics of recent immigrants to NJ & compares these characteristics to those of immigrants to the US generally, drawing on data from the 1980 & 1990 US Censuses. Great differences are found in nativity between NJ & total US immigrants. NJ's Asian population grew enormously, 1980-1990, reaching rough parity with levels in the US generally. However, unlike the country as a whole, the population of Latin American immigrants in NJ continues to remain very small. While the educational attainment of Asian immigrants in NJ is very strong, Asians continue to lag behind European men in terms of wages. It is concluded that NJ may be the exception to a declining immigrant quality pattern in the US. 9 Tables, 4 Figures, 10 References. D. M. Smith