Demographic and Socioeconomic Characteristics of Korean Americans the United States in 1980

Abstract

Based on the analysis of 1980 Public-Use Microdata Samples, this article demonstrates that the Korean immigrant stream, particularly men, has been very selective even before the 1965 reform due mainly to the restrictive U.S. immigration policies, although the significant presence of Korean Americans came after the influx of the post-1965 immigrants, known as a highly selected group. This selectivity is best represented in their high educational profile. However, despite the educational superiority and somewhat positive occupational position, Korean men in the U.S. are seriously disadvantaged in income regardless of nativity status. Korean Americans are not as successful as whites in translating their education into occupation and income; they are better educated for the same job, but experience a lower income return to the same education and the same occupation.