Do Mexican Immigrant Men Work More? Examining the Difference in Work Time between Mexican Immigrant and Non-Hispanic White Men

Ken-Hou Lin, University of Massachusetts at Amherst

Less-skilled immigrants have been expected to have long work hours, but it might not be true among today’s immigrants. Using data from the Current Population Survey, I examine differences in work time between Mexican immigrant and non-Hispanic white men. Evidence shows that Mexican men work 2 to 3 hours less than non-Hispanic whites per week. This work time disparity is largely explained by differences in job characteristics, familial contexts and English ability. Further analysis indicates that Mexican men who work as non-hourly-paid workers have shorter workweek than their white counterpart. Meanwhile, there is no ethnic difference among hourly-paid workers.