1. Building for the Future: Immigrant Skills Acquisition in North Carolina’s Construction Industry Nichola Lowe Department of City and Regional Planning Jackie Hagan Department of Sociology

2. Growth of Latino Population in North Carolina, 1970-2004

3. Skills Contribution of Latino Immigrant Workers Presumed unskilled because of low education levels Ignores: benefits for businesses that recognize and advance immigrant skills impact on social mobility obstacles to skill development

4. North Carolina Latino Workers by Industry, 2004:  1 Construction

5. Employee Mobility in Construction and Building Trades Career ladders developed through apprenticeships and training programs 3 - 5 years: laborer to journeymen Union and non-union sites Is this also the case for Latino immigrants?

6. Research Questions What skills do Latino immigrants bring with them and acquire on the job? Under what conditions are these skills recognized, advanced and rewarded by U.S. employers? What role do mediating labor market institutions (e.g. unions, industry associations, work centers, colleges) play in immigrant skill development? Does skills recognition and advancement facilitate opportunities for social mobility, as evidenced through higher wages, greater job stability and entrepreneurial activities?

7. Research Design In-depth interviews 200 immigrant workers 50 employers 30 institutional Analysis of construction industry trends: 1970 to present Data set analysis: American Community Survey and others

8. Immigrant Skill Development Pathways Pathway 1 Clear advancement opportunities Active employer participation in learning Skills mentoring/training Replicates apprenticeship model Wage increases and promotions Pathway 2 Few advancement opportunities Self-guided learning Solitary and isolated not social and interactive Skill development not tracked Most common

9. Dimension 1: Tacit Knowledge and Hidden Skills Know-how gained through hands-on experience Formalized through apprenticeships Can reinforce hidden immigrant skills and talents

10. Dimension 2: Employer - Employee Distance Social networks used to hire immigrants Also reproduced at worksite Use of mid-level immigrant interpreters Not empowered to promote fellow immigrants on the basis of skill

11. Dimension 3: Loss of Institutional Support for Skill Development Union standards have waned New institutions not well connected to employers and immigrant community Subcontractors are small sized and resource constrained

12. Policy Suggestions Why? Social mobility and skills crisis National immigration policy Local institution building

13. Questions and comments