GENDER, EARNINGS, AND THE ENGLISH SKILL ACQUISITION OF HISPANIC WORKERS IN THE UNITED-STATES

Using the 1980 and 1990 Public Use Microdata Samples, we find that lab or market outcomes associated with English proficiency vary with respe ct to gender. Far example, a synthetic cohort analysis provides eviden ce of gender-related differences in Hispanic workers' English skill ac quisition. Moreover we observe that Hispanic women face a lower Englis h deficiency earnings penalty that rises more sharply with education t han the penalty obtained by their otherwise similar male peers. Finall y, English fluency appears to serve as a stronger occupational sorting mechanism for women than men. (JEL J3, J1).