ERIC Number: ED671130
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2024-Sep
Pages: 15
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: 0000-00-00
What We Learned from the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies: Skills and Economic Outcomes of U.S. Immigrants and Their U.S.-Born Offspring. Research Note
Jeanne Batalova
American Institutes for Research
The United States has been a leading global destination for immigrants for decades. More than 46.2 million immigrants reside in the United States, and their successful integration plays a pivotal role in bolstering the nation's robust economy, fostering innovation, and enriching its vibrant culture. As the United States confronts the challenge of low birth rates and an aging population, immigrants and their U.S.-born offspring--collectively referred to as the immigrantorigin population--assume even greater significance. As of 2022, this population stood at 87.8 million and accounted for 27 percent of U.S. adults. According to government projections, they will be the sole source of net growth in the U.S. working-age population over the next decade. These evolving demographic and labor force dynamics raise fundamental questions about whether immigrant-origin adults have the essential skills required to fully participate in the U.S. knowledge-based economy and how these skills translate into economic outcomes such as earnings and occupational status. They also raise questions about the policy measures needed to (a) harness the strengths that immigrant-origin adults bring and (b) support those who encounter barriers to labor market integration. Addressing these questions is imperative not only for the individual economic well-being of immigrants but also for the enduring prosperity and global economic competitiveness of the nation. One unique source of empirical evidence concerning the critical skills of working-age adults--including immigrants--that encompasses literacy, numeracy, and digital competencies is the international survey known as the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC). This research note highlights major findings from 24 national and international reports and research studies based on both PIAAC and other datasets that explore the skills and education profiles of immigrant-origin adults as well as how these skills relate to their economic outcomes, including employment and wages. PIAAC's U.S. results generally align with other U.S. studies exploring immigrant integration outcomes. They underscore the diversity in characteristics and outcomes among the immigrant-origin population, presenting both reasons for optimism and areas of concern.
Descriptors: Adults, Parent Background, Educational Attainment, Parent Child Relationship, Equal Education, Educational Opportunities, Social Mobility, College Attendance, Socioeconomic Status, Cross Cultural Studies, International Assessment, Outcome Measures, Employment, Income, Adult Literacy, Problem Solving, Scores, Older Adults
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Related Records: ED671129
Publication Type: Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Authoring Institution: American Institutes for Research (AIR)
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC)
IES Funded: Yes
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Department of Education Funded: Yes
Author Affiliations: N/A