THE ROLE OF OCCUPATIONAL ATTAINMENT, LABOR-MARKET STRUCTURE, AND EARNINGS INEQUALITY ON THE RELATIVE EARNINGS OF MEXICAN-AMERICANS - 1986-1992

This article analyzes how the 1990-1991 recession and recent changes i n U.S. immigration laws may have affected the employment and earnings of Mexican Americans. Using data from the 1986 and 1992 waves of the N ational Longitudinal Survey of Youth (n = 2,091), the authors attempt to explain the decline in real earnings experienced by Mexican America ns during this period The relative earnings of Mexican American males (females) fell from 92.41% (77.67%) in 1986 to 82.54% (74.71%) in 1992 . Although Mexican Americans seem to be relatively concentrated in low -paying occupations, recent changes in the U.S., wage structure may ha ve worked to offset the observed decrease in relative earnings.