Mexican Occupational Attainment in Old and New Immigrant Destinations

Stephanie A. Bohon, University of Tennessee

We compare the occupational attainment of Mexican immigrants in traditional and emerging U.S. gateways. Using data from the 2000 PUMS we examine whether or not immigrants in new destinations such as Atlanta obtain better jobs than those in traditional destinations. We also examine the interaction of sex and self-employment in these destinations in order to determine whether or not the occupational attainment gap between self-employed men and women is different in old and new places. Finally, we compare Suro and Singer's (2002) metropolitan typology with Kritz and Gurak's (2006) labor market gateways to determine if the definition of "old" and "new" destinations affects outcomes. Our findings suggest that place selection results in an occupational advantage in new destinations. Furthermore, the gap in occupational attainment between self-employed men and women is reduced in new destinations, but this finding is explained by a self-employment disadvantage for men in emerging gateways.