Temporary Migration and Skill Upgrading: Evidence from Mexican Migrants

This paper explores the extent to which temporary Mexican migrants upgrade theirskills while working in the United States. The vast majority of the migration that weobserve is undertaken without documents. In contrast to Lacuesta (2006), we findthat labor market performance in Mexico is positively related to one's accumulatedmigration experience in the United States. Self-selection of high-skilled individualsinto migration does not drive this result. We also investigate the possible mechanismsby which migration experience might improve earnings in Mexico. We find support forthe notion that migration experience improves labor market outcomes by improvingoccupation specific skills rather than by inducing higher rates of occupational mobilityor entrepreneurship.Keywords: return migration, skill-upgrading, wage premium, Mexico     «

This paper explores the extent to which temporary Mexican migrants upgrade theirskills while working in the United States. The vast majority of the migration that weobserve is undertaken without documents. In contrast to Lacuesta (2006), we findthat labor market performance in Mexico is positively related to one's accumulatedmigration experience in the United States. Self-selection of high-skilled individualsinto migration does not drive this result. We also investigate the possible mechanismsby...     »