Columbia International Affairs Online: Working Papers

CIAO DATE: 04/2014

Integration of Low-Skilled Immigrants to the United-States and Work-Family Balance

Magali Girard

March 2012

Center for German and European Studies, University of California, Berkeley

Abstract

The role played by immigrants in the American economy is well documented and, to a lesser extent, the effect of the migration experience on the families of immigrants. However, little is known of the connections between work and family when it comes to immigrants, especially immigrants in low-skilled jobs, whether it is the effect of labour market experiences on the family or the effect of family patterns on integration into the labour market. Yet, the issue of balancing personal life with professional responsibilities is of growing interest among scholars and policy makers, given the increasing participation of women in the labour market, the increase in non-standard work and the high proportion of immigrants in these work arrangements.