1. High-skilled Immigrants in the
Massachusetts Civilian Labor Force:
U.S./Foreign Degrees
Boston Redevelopment Authority
Alvaro Lima, Director of Research
April 2014

2. 2
Produced by the BRA Research Division
Alvaro Lima – Director
Mark Melnik – Deputy Director
Kelly Dowd – Research Manager
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Interns
Chandana Cherukupalli
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3. Some Definitions:
Foreign‐born Worker: Used interchangeably with “immigrant worker” throughout this presentation to refer to
persons born outside the United States, excluding those born abroad to American citizens. Puerto Ricans are U.S.
citizens and are not considered immigrants.
Civilian Labor Force: A term used by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to describe the subset of Americans
who have jobs or are seeking a job, are at least 16 years old, are not serving in the military and are not
institutionalized.
High‐Skilled/Mid‐Skilled/Low‐Skilled Foreign‐born Worker: High‐skilled is defined as foreign‐born persons in the
civilian labor force with at least a Bachelor’s degree (BA+); Mid‐skilled are those with some college or associated
degree; Low‐skilled are those lacking a high school diploma or less.
Limited English Proficiency (LEP): This term refers to any person age 5 and older who reported speaking English
“less than well,” as classified by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Average Wages: The sum of wages, tips, and the like subject to Federal income taxes as reported by employers on
Form W‐2.
Foreign Degree: Those with a Bachelor’s degree or higher were identified as having a “foreign degree” if they were
25 or older at the time of their entry into the U.S.
U.S. Degree: Those with a Bachelor’s degree or higher were identified as having a “U.S. degree” if they were
younger than 25 at the time of their entry into the U.S.
3

4. U.S. Degree
50%
Foreign Degree
50%
High‐skilled Foreign‐born Workers by
U.S./Foreign degree
Male
52%
Female
48%
U.S. Degree
Male
58%
Female
42%
Foreign Degree
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2007‐2011 American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS), BRA Research Division Analysis 4
 Among high-skilled foreign-born workers, half have a degree from within
the U.S. and half have a foreign-degree.
o Among those with a foreign-degree, 58% are male and 42% are female.
o Among those with a U.S. degree, 52% are male and 48% are female.

5.  Among high-skilled foreign-born workers with a foreign degree, the
majority earned a graduate degree.
 Of those who earned their degree in the U.S., 55% earned a Bachelor’s
degree.
5
55.0%
45.0%
43.3%
56.7%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
Bachelor's Degree Master's Degree and Above
High‐skilled Foreign‐Born Workers Educational Attainment
by U.S./Foreign Degree
U.S. Degree
Foreign Degree
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2007‐2011 American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS), BRA Research Division Analysis

6.  The top five countries of origin among high-skilled foreign-born workers
with a U.S. degree are India, China, Vietnam, Canada and Haiti.
6
12%
9%
5%
4%
4%
3%
3%
3%
3%
2%2%2%2%
2%2%2%
1%
1%1%
1%
37%
Top 20 Countries of Birth of High‐skilled Foreign‐born Workers,
U.S. Degree
India
China
Vietnam
Canada
Haiti
Korea
Brazil
Hong Kong
Russia
Dominican Republic
Taiwan
Germany
Portugal
England
Poland
Jamaica
Colombia
Lebanon
Iran
Ireland
Other
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2007‐2011 American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS), BRA Research Division Analysis

7. 7
14%
10%
4%
4%
4%
3%
2%
2%
2%2%2%2%
2%2%
2%
2%
2%1%
1%
1%
36%
Top 20 Countries of Birth of High‐skilled Foreign‐born Workers,
Foreign Degree
India
China
Brazil
Russia
Canada
Korea
Philippines
United Kingdom, Not Specified
Germany
Ukraine
Dominican Republic
Haiti
England
Japan
Taiwan
Colombia
France
Poland
Ireland
Israel
Other
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2007‐2011 American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS), BRA Research Division Analysis
 The top five countries of origin among high-skilled foreign-born workers
holding a U.S. degree are India, China, Brazil, Russia and Canada.

8.  High-skilled foreign-born workers with a foreign degree tend to be older
than those with a U.S. degree.
8
7.2%
40.9%
26.5%
15.6%
8.0%
1.8%
0.0%
21.1%
33.7%
27.0%
13.7%
4.4%
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
30.0%
35.0%
40.0%
45.0%
19‐24 25‐34 35‐44 45‐54 55‐64 65+
Age Distribution of High‐skilled Foreign‐born Workers
by U.S./Foreign Degree
U.S. Degree
Foreign Degree
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2007‐2011 American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS), BRA Research Division Analysis

9.  98% of those who earned their degree in the U.S. are English Proficient (EP).
 Those with a foreign degree are more likely to be Limited English Proficient
(LEP).
9
98%
2%
U.S. Degree
English Proficient
Limited English
Proficiency
94%
6%
Foreign Degree
English Proficient
Limited English
Proficiency
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2007‐2011 American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS), BRA Research Division Analysis
English Proficiency of High‐skilled Foreign‐born Workers by U.S./Foreign Degree

10. 10
0.0%
2.0%
4.0%
6.0%
8.0%
10.0%
12.0%
14.0%
16.0%
Management
Business and Financial Operations
Computer and Mathematical
Architecture and Engineering
Life, Physical, and Social Science
Community and Social Service
Legal
Education, Training, and Library
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and
Media
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
Healthcare Support
Protective Service
Food Preparation and Serving Related
Building and Grounds Cleaning and
Maintenance
Personal Care and Service
Sales and Related
Office and Administrative Support
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry
Construction and Extraction
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Production
Transportation and Material Moving
English
Proficiency
Limited English
Proficiency
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2007‐2011 American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS), BRA Research Division Analysis
Occupations of High-skilled Foreign-born Workers by English Proficiency,
U.S. Degree

11. 11
0.0%
2.0%
4.0%
6.0%
8.0%
10.0%
12.0%
14.0%
Management
Business and Financial Operations
Computer and Mathematical
Architecture and Engineering
Life, Physical, and Social Science
Community and Social Service
Legal
Education, Training, and Library
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and
Media
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
Healthcare Support
Protective Service
Food Preparation and Serving Related
Building and Grounds Cleaning and
Maintenance
Personal Care and Service
Sales and Related
Office and Administrative Support
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry
Construction and Extraction
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Production
Transportation and Material Moving
English Proficiency
Limited English Proficiency
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2007‐2011 American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS), BRA Research Division Analysis
Occupations of High-skilled Foreign-born Workers by English Proficiency,
Foreign Degree

12. 12
13.6%
12.4%
11.2%
9.6% 9.5%
8.0%
5.0%
4.6%
2.8%
2.4% 2.3% 2.3%
1.9% 1.6% 1.6%
11.1%
0.0%
2.0%
4.0%
6.0%
8.0%
10.0%
12.0%
14.0%
16.0%
Top 15 Countries of Birth of High‐skilled Foreign‐born Workers with Limited English Proficiency,
U.S. Degree*
*Note: The total count for High‐skilled Foreign‐Born Workers with Limited English Proficiency, U.S. Degree is 1,814.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2007‐2011 American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS), BRA Research Division Analysis
 The top 5 countries of birth among high-skilled foreign-born workers who are LEP
with a U.S. degree are Brazil, Vietnam, China, Guatemala, and Dominican Republic.

13. 13
12.6% 12.5%
11.5%
4.8% 4.6% 4.2%
3.4% 3.3% 3.2% 3.1% 2.6% 2.6% 2.5% 2.3% 1.9%
24.7%
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
30.0%
Top 15 Countries of Birth of High‐skilled Foreign‐born Workers with Limited English Proficiency,
Foreign Degree*
*Note: The total count for High‐skilled Foreign‐Born Workers with Limited English Proficiency, Foreign Degree is Degree is 7,146.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2007‐2011 American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS), BRA Research Division Analysis
 The top 5 countries of birth among high-skilled foreign-born workers who are LEP
with a foreign degree are China, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Ukraine, and Japan.

14. 14
4.5%
3.0%
5.1%
8.8%
0.0% 1.0% 2.0% 3.0% 4.0% 5.0% 6.0% 7.0% 8.0% 9.0% 10.0%
English Proficiency
Limited English Proficiency
English Proficiency
Limited English Proficiency
U.S. DegreeForeign Degree
Unemployment Rate
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2007‐2011 American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS), BRA Research Division Analysis
 High-skilled foreign-born workers who are LEP and have a foreign degree have the
highest unemployment rate, at 8.8%.
o Those who are LEP and have a U.S. degree have the lowest unemployment rate,
at 3%.

15.  Most high-skilled foreign-born workers (independent of the origin of their
degree) work in high-skilled occupations.
 Those with a U.S. degree have a small advantage in Management; Business
and Financial Operations; and Architecture and Engineering.
15
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2007‐2011 American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS), BRA Research Division Analysis
0.0%
2.0%
4.0%
6.0%
8.0%
10.0%
12.0%
14.0%
16.0%
Management
Business and Financial Operations
Computer and Mathematical
Architecture and Engineering
Life, Physical, and Social Science
Community and Social Service
Legal
Education, Training, and Library
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports,
and Media
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
Healthcare Support
Protective Service
Food Preparation and Serving Related
Building and Grounds Cleaning and
Maintenance
Personal Care and Service
Sales and Related
Office and Administrative Support
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry
Construction and Extraction
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Production
Transportation and Material Moving
Occupations of High‐skilled Foreign‐Born Workers by U.S./Foreign Degree
U.S. Degree
Foreign Degree
High-skill Occupations
Management Occupations
Business and Financial Operation
Computer and Mathematics
Architecture and Engineering
Life, Physical and social Science
Community and Social Service
Legal Occupation
Education, Training and Library
Art, Design, Entertainment, Sport and Media
Healthcare Practitioners and Technology

16.  High-skilled foreign-born workers, regardless of where they obtained their
degrees, are over-represented in the fields of Business, Humanities, Social
Science and Communications.
16
18.9%
15.0%
6.8%
29.9%
11.0%
13.7%
3.1%
1.5%
0.1%
13.1%
21.5%
6.8%
30.3%
10.4% 10.4%
6.0%
1.1% 0.3%
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
30.0%
35.0%
Business
Natural Science
Healthcare and Medical
Engeneering, Computer and
Mathematics
Humanities
Social Science
Education
Communication
Other
U.S. Degree
Foreign Degree
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009‐2011 American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS), BRA Research Division Analysis
Field of Study of High‐skilled Foreign‐born Workers by U.S./Foreign Degree

17. 17
U.S. Degree Foreign Degree
Occupations
English
Proficiency %
Limited
English
Proficiency %
English
Proficiency %
Limited
English
Proficiency %
Management 1,064 6.3% 935 5.1% 0 0.0% 41 1.1%
Business and Financial Operations 1,028 6.1% 707 3.8% 0 0.0% 57 1.6%
Computer and Mathematical 821 4.9% 682 3.7% 0 0.0% 0 0.0%
Architecture and Engineering 219 1.3% 226 1.2% 0 0.0% 0 0.0%
Life, Physical, and Social Science 788 4.7% 663 3.6% 10 1.4% 42 1.2%
Community and Social Service 388 2.3% 525 2.9% 0 0.0% 62 1.7%
Legal 103 0.6% 100 0.5% 0 0.0% 19 0.5%
Education, Training, and Library 3,563 21.1% 3,271 17.8% 68 9.2% 158 4.4%
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 800 4.7% 593 3.2% 0 0.0% 11 0.3%
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical 1,123 6.6% 821 4.5% 10 1.4% 70 2.0%
Healthcare Support 524 3.1% 857 4.7% 0 0.0% 88 2.5%
Protective Service 156 0.9% 150 0.8% 0 0.0% 53 1.5%
Food Preparation and Serving Related 785 4.6% 1,108 6.0% 131 17.8% 506 14.2%
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance 381 2.3% 667 3.6% 73 9.9% 409 11.5%
Personal Care and Service 569 3.4% 1,027 5.6% 93 12.6% 348 9.7%
Sales and Related 2,098 12.4% 2,360 12.8% 80 10.9% 317 8.9%
Office and Administrative Support 1,543 9.1% 1,666 9.1% 42 5.7% 339 9.5%
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 26 0.2% 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 97 2.7%
Construction and Extraction 317 1.9% 198 1.1% 61 8.3% 182 5.1%
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 65 0.4% 56 0.3% 40 5.4% 13 0.4%
Production 188 1.1% 940 5.1% 50 6.8% 372 10.4%
Transportation and Material Moving 363 2.1% 843 4.6% 78 10.6% 388 10.9%
Total 16,912 100.0% 18,395 100.0% 736 100.0% 3,572 100.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2007‐2011 American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS), BRA Research Division Analysis
Low‐paid High‐skilled Foreign‐born Workers by Occupation, U.S./Foreign Degree, and English Proficiency
 Among low-paid high-skilled foreign-born workers:
o Those with a U.S. degree are most likely to work in Education, Training, and Library; Sales and
Related; and Office and Administrative, regardless of their English proficiency.
o Those with a foreign degree who are EP predominantly work in Food Preparation and Serving;
Personal Care and Service; Sales and Related; and Transportation and Material Moving.
o Those with a foreign degree who are LEP predominantly work in Food Preparation and Serving;
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance; Production; and Transportation and Material
Moving.

18. 18
U.S. Degree Foreign Degree
Field of Study
English
Proficiency %
Limited
English
Proficiency %
English
Proficiency %
Limited
English
Proficiency %
Business 20,548 18.9% 382 23.7% 13,648 12.8% 1,272 18.1%
Natural Science 16,383 15.0% 170 10.6% 23,176 21.7% 1,279 18.2%
Healthcare and Medical 7,389 6.8% 83 5.2% 7,415 7.0% 287 4.1%
Engineering, Computer and
Mathematics 32,759 30.1% 289 17.9% 32,717 30.7% 1,729 24.6%
Humanities 11,862 10.9% 327 20.3% 11,082 10.4% 759 10.8%
Social Science 14,879 13.7% 221 13.7% 11,019 10.3% 841 11.9%
Education 3,336 3.1% 116 7.2% 6,057 5.7% 802 11.4%
Communication 1,608 1.5% 23 1.4% 1,178 1.1% 70 1.0%
Other 153 0.1% 0 0.0% 392 0.4% 0 0.0%
Total 108,917 100.0% 1,611 100.0% 106,684 100.0% 7,039 100.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009‐2011 American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS), BRA Research Division Analysis
High‐skilled Foreign‐born Workers by
Field of Study, U.S./Foreign Degree and English Proficiency
 Among high-skilled foreign-born workers with a U.S. degree:
o Those who are EP are largely studied Engineering, Computers and Mathematics.
o Those who are LEP are concentrated in the Humanities.
 Among high-skilled foreign-born workers with a foreign degree:
o Those who are both EP and LEP studied Engineering, Computers and Mathematics.