ABSTRACT
Asian Americans have made significant socioeconomic gains, which have resulted in changing societal perceptions of Asian Americans. The labor market and occupational concentrations of Asian Americans may be exceptionally important in determining earnings. Japanese immigrants arrived on the West Coast and in Hawaii shortly after the termination of Chinese immigration. The data for Asian Americans are from the 5 percent 1980 US Census public use sample of residents of standard metropolitan statistical areas (SMSA) in the state of California. SMSAs are populated predominantly by urban dwellers but rural areas are also included. Asian Americans make up a heterogeneous population with significant diversity between ethnic groups and between the native-born and immigrants of each group. English skills among immigrants are associated with higher earnings. Being a US citizen is also associated with a substantial advantage in earnings for immigrants. Filipino Americans do not seem to be on the same road as Chinese and Japanese Americans.
