Quality of post-1965 Asian immigrants

The reliance on an overall average approach to the labor market quality of immigrants could generate misleading information and biased policy recommen dations. Focusing on Asian immigrants, this article demonstrates that much insight into immigrant quality can be gained via a diversity approach. Usin g the 5% PUMS data of the 1990 U.S. census, this paper shows that a common perception that the quality of post-1965 immigrants is lower than natives a nd earlier immigrants is invalid for post-1965 Asian immigrants. Unlike the ir Latin American counterparts, post-1965 Asian immigrants are generally mo re educated and skilled than natives. The educational level of post-1965 As ian immigrants surpasses that of their pre-1965 counterparts, despite their disadvantage in occupational attainment due to their shorter time of adapt ation. Diversity also characterizes educational and occupational attainment across major post-1965 Asian immigrant groups and within each Asian immigr ant group before and after 1965. Gender does not alter the advantage of pos t-1965 Asian immigrants over natives and their pre-1965 parallels in educat ion, but it does complicate their occupational status. Policy implications of the findings are considered.