Immigration Article of the Day: Immigrants in Risky Occupations by Pia M. Orrenius and Madeline Zavodny Agnes

Immigrants in Risky Occupations by Pia M. Orrenius (Federal Reserve Banks – Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas) and Madeline Zavodny Agnes (Scott College; Institute for the Study of Labor)

ABSTRACT:  This chapter reviews the economics literature on immigrant-native differentials in occupational risk. It begins by briefly explaining the theory of compensating wage differentials. It then provides a more detailed discussion of the empirical evidence on the subject, which reaches several conclusions. First, immigrants are overrepresented in occupations and industries with higher injury and fatality rates. Second, immigrants have higher work-related injury and fatality rates in some advanced economies, but not all. Finally, most, but not all, immigrants appear to earn risk premiums similar to natives for working in risky jobs. The chapter closes with a discussion of areas where additional research is needed.

KJ