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NBER paper on high-skilled immigration and STEM

Updated: Author: Alina Kanametova

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NBER paper on high-skilled immigration and the rise of STEM occupations in the US: 35 pages cited as national-importance evidence.

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A 2016 NBER working paper on how high-skilled immigration relates to U.S. STEM employment. It summarizes long-run STEM employment patterns, the foreign-born share in STEM jobs, and earnings differences between native-born and foreign-born workers, using Census, ACS, and CPS data. The paper emphasizes computer-related occupations and the timing of immigrant arrival at age 21 or older.

Key points

  • Uses 1980, 1990, 2000, and 2010-2012 Census/ACS data plus March CPS.
  • Defines STEM as computer fields, engineering, life and medical sciences, physical sciences, and survey/mapping.
  • Excludes lower-skill technician, computer support, and drafter categories from STEM.
  • STEM work rose in the 1990s, dipped after the dot-com bust, and rose again later.
  • Among 25-54 year olds, STEM jobs are a small but rising share of total hours worked.
  • Immigrants make up a disproportionate share of STEM jobs, especially among younger and advanced-degree workers.
  • Most foreign-born STEM workers arrived in the U.S. at age 21 or older.
  • Foreign-born earnings are much closer to native-born earnings in STEM than in non-STEM jobs.
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