Labor Force Status of Asian American Pacific Islander Groups By Citizenship, Nativity, and English-language Proficiency, 2011-2012
Open Access
- Author:
- Sanoubane, Dara Noi
- Graduate Program:
- Workforce Education and Development
- Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- December 03, 2021
- Committee Members:
- Wesley Donahue, Major Field Member
Allison Fleming, Outside Unit Member
Edgar Yoder, Outside Field Member
David Passmore, Chair & Dissertation Advisor
Cynthia Pellock, Major Field Member
Heather Zimmerman, Professor in Charge/Director of Graduate Studies - Keywords:
- AAPI
Asian American
Immigrants
Labor Force Participation
Unemployment
Employment
English Proficiency
Nativity
Citizenship
Race
Ethnicity
Disaggregated Data - Abstract:
- The Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) population is comprised of many different ethnic groups. Historically discriminatory policies and practices towards Asian immigrants, the continuation of the Asian model minority myth, and the view of AAPIs as one homogenous racial group have contributed to the lack of attention towards the educational and workforce development needs of many groups within the AAPI conglomerate. Previous studies on the issues of educational, social, and economic inequities and stratification within the AAPI community assert that differences in immigration pathways have contributed to an educational and economic stratification within the AAPI community. The perpetuation of a model minority stereotype and a homogenous view of the AAPI population created an oversimplification of their educational and economic capabilities. This has led to the neglect of the various economic, educational, and social challenges among AAPI groups. The study focused on a need to disaggregate the AAPI population by ethnic groupings to understand potential differences in labor force status. The American Community Survey 2011-2012 data provided an AAPI sample population disaggregated into ethnic groups. Differences in the labor force participation rate, the employment-population ratio, and the unemployment rate of the AAPI groups by characteristics of citizenship, nativity, and English-language proficiency were calculated. Regression-adjusted differences in the probability of employment, labor force participation, and unemployment were calculated using logistic regression estimates at a 95% confidence interval. The study found that differences in labor force status varied considerably among AAPI groups. The findings indicated that labor force differences ranged from small to moderate and significant, depending on the specific ethnic group and characteristic of interest. Generally, differences in the probability of employment were small, differences in the probability of labor force participation were moderate, and differences in the probability of unemployment were small for the AAPI population. AAPI groups who indicate U.S. citizenship and English-language proficiency generally had moderate to significantly higher probabilities of employment and labor force participation and slightly lower probabilities of unemployment than the non-U.S. citizen and non-English proficient reference categories. U.S.-born AAPI members had a slightly lower probability of employment and probability of labor force participation and a slightly higher probability of unemployment than foreign-born members. The study demonstrated disaggregating the AAPI population by ethnic groups as a process to describe labor force variations among AAPI groups and to highlight specific groups underperforming in the labor force. Correlations of labor force differences concentrated in certain AAPI groups and within specific characteristics are discussed, and further studies are recommended. Implications of the findings for policymakers and the AAPI community are discussed.