Title: Occupational change and asset holding among US immigrants

Authors: RaeHyuck Lee; Mashura Akilova; Tara Batista

Addresses: Columbia University School of Social Work, Room 723B, 1255 Amsterdam Ave., New York, NY 10027, USA ' Columbia University School of Social Work, 9th Floor Doctoral Lounge, 1255 Amsterdam Ave., New York, NY 10027, USA ' Stetson University School of Business Administration, Unit # 8398, 421 N Woodland Blvd., Deland, FL 32724, USA

Abstract: Using data from the new immigrant survey (N = 3,669), we examined the association between occupational change and asset holding among legal US immigrants. Our findings suggest that immigrants' occupational upgrades tended to be positively associated with the likelihood of holding assets. Specifically, compared to immigrants whose occupational status remained the same, immigrants' upward mobility was associated with higher odds of holding home equity. Immigrants who experienced an occupational downgrade were more likely to hold liquid assets compared to those who experienced no change. Through a more specific model, which reflected the extent of change in occupational status (e.g., slight change and severe change), we found that, whereas immigrants who experienced a severe upgrade tended to be more likely to hold home equity, immigrants who experienced both slight and severe downgrade tended to be more likely to hold liquid assets.

Keywords: new immigrant survey; NIS; occupational change; asset holding; legal immigrants; US immigrants; upward mobility; occupational mobility; downward mobility; USA; United States; home equity; liquid assets.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMBS.2015.070770

International Journal of Migration and Border Studies, 2015 Vol.1 No.4, pp.325 - 347

Received: 04 Jul 2014
Accepted: 06 Dec 2014

Published online: 24 Jul 2015 *

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