Workers with limited English skills may suffer adverse effects when states declare English the official language. If employers believe official English laws allow or require them to adopt workplace English‐only rules that lower the demand for limited-English‐proficient workers, such laws may harm individuals who do not speak English well. Using data from the 1980 and 1990 censuses, I estimate whether the earnings of limited-English‐proficient workers who live in states that adopted official English laws declined relative to other workers. The results suggest a substantial decline in the annual earnings of men with limited English proficiency.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Madeline Zavodny (2000) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: