EXPLORING THE LINK BETWEEN IMMIGRANT SELECTIVITY AND ECONOMIC OUTCOMES: A STUDY OF EDUCATIONAL SELECTIVITY AND LABOR MARKET PERFORMANCE IN THE UK

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between immigrant selectivity and
labor market outcomes, focusing on the educational selectivity of
immigrants in the United Kingdom. While previous research has
suggested that immigrant selectivity plays a role in determining
economic outcomes and intergenerational mobility, there is limited
evidence on the extent of selectivity and its consequences for
immigrants' labor market outcomes. This study aims to fill this gap by
providing a comprehensive assessment of the causal pathway between
selectivity and economic outcomes.
Using nationally representative data from the Understanding Society
survey, the study explores the association between educational
selectivity and various labor market indicators. The analysis reveals
that, on average, immigrants in the UK have higher levels of
qualifications compared to non-migrants from their countries of origin.
However, the study finds limited evidence of a positive relationship
between educational selectivity and labor market outcomes beyond
absolute levels of qualifications. Instead, selectivity is negatively
associated with employment and wages for both male and female
immigrants.
To better understand these findings, the study investigates the
mechanisms through which selectivity may influence economic
outcomes, including immigrants' mental and physical health, social
capital, and cognitive and non-cognitive skills. However, the study
finds no positive association between selectivity and these mechanisms
for either male or female immigrants.
The study contributes to the literature by providing new empirical
evidence on the consequences of immigrant selectivity in a highmigration context. Unlike previous studies, this research directly
measures the mechanisms linking selectivity and economic outcomes,
rather than relying solely on theoretical propositions. The findings
suggest a break in the expected causal pathway between selectivity and