California Center for Population Research

We evaluate recent revisions of assimilation theory by comparing the labor market performance of Mexican immigrants and their descendents to those of native white and African Americans. Using unique data from the CPS Contingent Worker Series, we assess evidence of assimilation across employment sector distribution, fringe benefits, and earnings of four Mexican foreign born cohorts, second generation, and third generation Mexican Americans. Although we find improvement amongst older cohorts and the second and third generation, Mexican origin workers never converge with native whites on any measure except earnings. Instead, Mexican origin workers mirror African Americans by their high probability of public sector employment and under representation in self-employment, as well as their lower likelihood of fringe benefits within the private sector and in self- employment.