Individual English Proficiency, Community Language Resources, and Immigrants’ Employment in Western New York: Evidence from the American Community Survey

Abstract

This study examines associations between the ability to speak English, community language resources, and employment among immigrants in Western New York, United States. Building on existing literature that demonstrates the importance of individual human capital (English proficiency), social networks, and ethnic community resources in immigrants’ labor market outcomes, we introduce the concept of community-level language resources as a facilitator of immigrants’ economic integration. Using data from the American Community Survey and a measure of community language resources (the percentage of bilinguals among people speaking the same language in a community), we find that greater community language resources are associated with a significant increase in the likelihood of being employed for immigrant men with limited English proficiency. Regression analyses also show that neither individual English proficiency nor community language resources are significantly associated with immigrant women's probability of being employed. This study calls for attention to community language resources and individual human capital when designing research on and developing policies for immigrant populations. Findings also show the need for a gender-aware approach to research and practice with immigrant communities.