Effects of occupational license access on undocumented immigrants evidence from the California reform

Abstract

In 2014, California lifted its legal work status requirement for dozens of occupational licenses -a major obstacle for undocumented immigrants in the US to access professional jobs. This paper assesses this policy's effects on the employment outcome of undocumented immigrants in the state. Analyzing likely undocumented immigrants in the American Community Survey, I find that the policy increased their employment, particularly in lower-education and blue-collar licensed occupations and for older and Hispanic workers. The effects were not driven by job switchers but by the unemployed transiting into employment. I also find that the law did not crowd out documented or US-born workers.