Effects of occupational license access on undocumented immigrants evidence from the California reform

In 2014, California lifted its legal work status requirement for dozens of occupational licenses - a major obstacle for undocumented immigrants in the US to access professional jobs. This paper assesses this policy’s effects on the employment outcome of undocumented immigrants in the state . Analyzing likely undocumented immigrants in the American Community Survey, I find that the policy increased their employment, particularly in lower-education and blue-collar licensed occupations and for older and Hispanic workers. The effects were not driven by job switchers but by the unemployed transiting into employment. I also find that the law did not crowd out documented workers.