Negative and Positive Assimilation by Prices and by Quantities

Abstract

This paper considers the labour market assimilation of immigrants in terms of earnings and employment (employment probability, unemployment probability, and hours worked per week). Using the 2006 Australian Census of Population and Housing, the analyses are performed separately by gender, separately by whether or not the origin is an English-speaking developed country (ESDC), and in comparison to the native-born. Among men in general, ‘negative assimilation’ is found for immigrants from the ESDC. Among women, the pattern of assimilation in earnings and employment is more positive than among their male counterparts. This may reflect the greater tendency for female immigrants to be tied movers. Among never married immigrant women from the ESDC, who are more likely than married immigrant women from the same countries to be economic migrants, the pattern of negative assimilation is observed.