How English Experience and Employment Sector Influence Immigrants’ Socioeconomic Assimilation

Abstract

An abundance of research suggests that an immigrant’s English experience is a major determining factor in the success of their socioeconomic assimilation. Most scholars equate English experience with English fluency, or the ability to speak English. However, Social English Use, or the frequency and comfort with which a person uses English in social settings, is a form of English experience that is theoretically unique from English fluency. This research seeks to compare fluency and Social English Use to determine the distinct influence that each has on immigrants’ socioeconomic and linguistic assimilation in the United States. Using the 2003 New Immigrant Survey (n = 2,348) and Ordinary Least Squares regression, I determine the effect that each form of English experience has on immigrant income both within and across occupational industries. I find that although English fluency has a stronger positive linear relationship with socioeconomic status (SES) than Social English Use (β=0.523 vs. 0.224, p ≤ 0.01), this differs across occupational industry. I also find that Social English Use moderates the relationship between immigrants working in professional occupations and SES (β=0.338, p = 0.051). My findings suggest that ensuring opportunities to use English in social settings may help immigrants to the U.S. obtain and succeed in professional occupations.