Inmigración y segregación en Chile : evidencia para un grupo heterogéneo”

Abstract

This paper surveys migratory and ethnic wage gaps in Chile using a non-parametric alternative to the traditional Oaxaca-Blinder Decomposition, developed by N˜ opo (2008). It is found that in general, immigrants tend to do better in labour markets, earning on average more than native workers in both 2015 and 2017. However, immigrants are a heterogeneous group, and when heterogeneities are taken into account, most of the relationships found disappear. This is particularly strong for those from countries with high Afro-descendant or Hispanic population, who earn on average -16% than natives in 2017, and in general are subject higher (negative) unexplained pay gaps in the same year. Moreover, similar results can be found for immigrants with 5 or less years of residence -as can be expected- and for those who are located in the North of Chile. Also, this paper provides evidence of occupational segregation among immigrants of the high African/Hispanic group with five or more years of residence, who appears to be subjected to a “glass ceiling effect”.