MPI’s NCIIP Data Resources and MPI’s NCIIP Data Resources and Policy-Focused Research on Policy-Focused Research on Immigrant Adult Literacy and Immigrant Adult Literacy and

Workforce Training NeedsWorkforce Training Needs

National Coalition for LiteracyFebruary 5, 2009

Margie McHugh, Co-Director, MPI NCIIP

The Migration Policy Institute is an independent, nonpartisan think tank in

Washington, DC dedicated to the analysis of the movement of people worldwide

www.migrationpolicy.org

About the Migration Policy Institute

Major Program Areas:

• National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy

• US Immigration• International Migration (special emphases

on EU, Canada and Mexico)• Migration and Development• Mobility and Security

About the Migration Policy Institute

Provide a crossroads for elected officials, community leaders, researchers and others

who seek to understand and respond to the challenges and opportunities that today’s high rates of immigration create in local communities.

The National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy

• Shine a spotlight

• Organize and strengthen a nascent field

• Identify and promote effective policies and practices

• Build the knowledge and skills of state and local elected officials and administrators

The National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy

Key areas currently:

• State and Local Immigration Law Enforcement

• Adult Education and Training

• PreK-12 Education

• E Pluribus Unum Prizes

The National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy

How:

• Policy-focused research

• Data Tools and Web Resources

• Training

• Convening

The National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy

• State ACS Fact Sheets

• State Legislation Database

• Language Portal

• Immigration: Data Matters

NCIIP Data Resources

• Michael Fix, Co-Director

• Margie McHugh, Co-Director

• Monica Arciga, Program Coordinator & Policy

Analyst

• Jeanne Batalova, Policy Analyst & Data Hub

Manager

• Randy Capps, Senior Policy Analyst

• Laureen Laglagaron, Policy Analyst

• Aaron Terrazas, Research Assistant

• Heide Spruck Wrigley, Non-Resident Fellow

NCIIP Staff

Points of Departure

• Baby Boom Retirement

• No growth native labor force

• Global competition

• Mismatch and afterthought

• Immigration reform

Children in Immigrant Families

• Children in immigrant families are 23% of US children and their share has grown since 1990.

Source: Migration Policy Institute, Data Hub, Historical Trends, Children in Immigrant Families; American Community Survey 2007, Census 1990, 2000.

3.1% 3.9% 3.5%

10.3%

15.2%19.4%

1990 2000 2007

Second generationFirst generation

Children in immigrant families as a share of all children

Immigrants are:

• 12% of US residents, but 15% of US workers

• A much higher share of workers in many large urban areas that drive the US economy: 46% in Miami Metro Area, 45% in LA Metro, 36% in NY Metro, 28% in Houston Metro, and 23% in Chicago Metro.

• 21% of low-wage workers, but 48% of low-skilled workers*

• 51% of immigrant workers are LEP

The Immigrant Work Force

* Low-wage workers earned less than twice the federal minimum wage in 2007.

More States Feel the Impact of Immigration:More States Feel the Impact of Immigration:Largest and Fastest-Growing Immigrant StatesLargest and Fastest-Growing Immigrant States

• Determining Need and Investing Wisely: July 2007

Recent NCIIPProjects and Publications

Estimating Numbers and Estimating Numbers and Characteristics of LEPsCharacteristics of LEPs

Using Census and UI imputations, we estimated LEPs by:

- Legal status: LPR; Unauthorized

- Ages: 17-24; 25 - 49; 50 – 55; 55+ (LPRs)

17-24; 25+ (Unauthorized)

- Time in US: <5 years; 5- 10 years; 10+ years

- Education: <5th Grade; 5th Grade+

Key subgroups: immigrant youth; FB nonliterate in any language

Estimating Hours of Instruction & CostsEstimating Hours of Instruction & Costs

– Index Census LEP levels to National Reporting System (Levels 1– 6)

– Create level “0” – No English and low literacy

Target for Adults Ages 25+:

Level “5” – Naturalization and Civic Participation

Target for Youths Ages 17-24:

Level “6” – Post-secondary schooling

• Time Needed:

110 hours to complete each level

ESL Need: LPRsESL Need: LPRs

5.8 million LPRs need English instruction

Assuming 110 hours to increase one ESL level

• 277 million hours per year to bring LPRs to English proficiency

• 1.6 billion hours over 6 years to reach English proficiency

Hours of ESL Required Hours of ESL Required for LPRs by Agefor LPRs by Age

Hours of ESL Required for LPRs to Reach English Proficiency by Age, 2005

We assume a goal of bringing all immigrants to a level 5 English proficiency for those age 25 and older, and to a level 6 English proficiency for those age 17 to 24.

  Hours

LPR 1,662,165,884

Age 56+ 390,770,981 (25%)

Age 50 to 55 120,251,927 (7%)

Age 25 to 49 931,249,052 (57%)

Age 17-24 219,893,924 (15%)

Source: MPI analysis of tabulations of 2000 census data and 2005 CPS with imputations of legal status by the Urban Institute.

ESL Need: UnauthorizedESL Need: Unauthorized

6.4 million unauthorized immigrants need English instruction

Assuming 110 hours to increase one ESL level

•319 million hours per year to bring unauthorized to English proficiency

• 1.9 billion hours over 6 years to reach English proficiency

Hours of ESL Required: Hours of ESL Required: Unauthorized by AgeUnauthorized by Age

Hours of ESL Required for Unauthorized Immigrants to Reach English Proficiency by Age, 2005

We assume a goal of bringing all immigrants to a level 5 English proficiency for those age 25 and older, and to a level 6 English proficiency for those age 17 to 24.

  Hours

Unauthorized 1,913,498,299

Age 25 and older 1,517,049,416 (75%)

Age 17-24 396,448,883 (25%)Source: MPI analysis of tabulations of 2000 census data and 2005 CPS with imputations of legal status by the Urban Institute.

Top 10 States in Hours of ESL Top 10 States in Hours of ESL Required Required

(Based on 2000 Data, Combining LPRs and (Based on 2000 Data, Combining LPRs and Unauthorized)Unauthorized)

050

100150200250300350400450

Califo

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Texas

New Y

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Florid

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Illin

ois

New J

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y

Arizona

Geo

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North C

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Mas

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Was

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English Instruction Need, English Instruction Need, By English Proficiency LevelBy English Proficiency Level

Source: Migration Policy Institute estimates based on Census 2000. McHugh, Gelatt and Fix 2007.

Number of lawful permanent residents and unauthorized immigrants age 17 and older in need of English Instruction.

  Number Percent

Age 17+ 12,193,007 100%

Level 0 747,751 6%

Level 1 2,806,483 23%

Level 2 1,997,093 16%

Level 3 3,540,997 29%

Level 4 2,024,919 17%

Level 5 1,075,764 9%

• Determining Need and Investing Wisely: July 2007

• California AEL Need, Supply and Implications for System Reform (unpublished)

Recent NCIIPProjects and Publications

• Only one-third of instructional need met by adult school and community college systems; problem of “ring” counties

• Adult school funding formula does not respond to demographic change

• Disproportionate beginner-level course supply versus intermediate and advanced compared to need

• Low caps on distance learning expenditures discourage innovation/expansion

California AEL Need, Supply and System-Reform Issues

• Determining Need and Investing Wisely: July 2007

• California AEL Need, Supply and Implications for System Reform (unpublished)

• Uneven Progress, October 2008

Recent NCIIPProjects and Publications

Study Questions

• What are the employment outcomes of skilled immigrants?

• Do they vary by country of origin and route to permanent residency?

• Is downward mobility inevitable for all newly arrived skilled immigrants? For how long?

• How does the US compare in its integration of skilled immigrants to Canada and Europe?

• What are the opportunities for private and public actors?

Uneven Progress: Major Findings

• More than 1.3 million college-educated immigrants are unemployed or working in unskilled jobs.

• 22% of all college-educated immigrants – or 1 out of every 5 highly skilled immigrants – are working in unskilled jobs (e.g., construction laborers, babysitters, file clerks, etc.)

• Another 22% are in semi-skilled jobs (e.g., carpenters, electricians, massage therapists, etc.)

• 44% recent Mexican and Central American skilled immigrants, are working in unskilled jobs.

Skilled Immigrants as Skilled Immigrants as Taxi Drivers, Maids, and CashiersTaxi Drivers, Maids, and Cashiers

Percentage of the College Educated in Unskilled Jobs*

Notes: *Among foreign-educated, “recent” refers to immigrants who came to the US ten or fewer years ago, while “long-term” refers to immigrants who have been in the US for 11 years or longer. “US educated” are immigrants who have at least a BA degree and who came to the US before age 25. **”Europe” refers to Europe, Canada, and Oceania.

Source: 2005-2006 ACS analysis from Batalova & Fix, Uneven Progress: The Employment Trajectories of Skilled Immigrants in the United States (MPI 2008).

2225

19 20

33

23

35

22

14

25

18

44

17 1618

US born All immigrants Foreign-edu immigrants

Recent Long term US educated

Europe** Asia Lat. America Africa

• NAAL Analysis

Current NCIIP Projects

• Identify adult immigrants’ current level of English language and literacy skills

• Examine the role of these skills in finding family-sustaining jobs and passing the citizenship test

• Discuss programs needed to assist adults to achieve their workforce, academic, family, and civics goals

• Assess degree to which data on English proficiency in ACS and NAAL are consistent

NAAL Analysis

• NAAL Analysis

• First- and Second-Generation Needs, Barriers and Pathways Project

Current NCIIP Projects

• 1st and 2nd generation youth 16-26 in five states: CA, NY, FL, GA, WA

• Four sectors: health care, hospitality, information technology & construction

• Explore education and training programs, investments and administrative practices that affect work and wage outcomes

First- and Second-Generation Pathways Project

• Develop sector- and region-specific worker demand and supply analyses

• Create socio-demographic and labor-force profile of 1st and 2nd generation young adults

• Identify systemic strengths and weaknesses of work-preparing institutions both within and outside each sector

First- and Second-Generation Pathways Project

Find data, reports and other analysisby state and for the nation at

www.migrationpolicy.org

… 2007 ACS data and newdatabases coming online soon!

Margie McHughmmchugh@migrationpolicy.org© Migration Policy Institute, 2008. All rights reserved.

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