Occupational disparity in a migrant metropolis: A case study of Atlanta

As the populations of immigrant and migrant groups swell in Atlanta, Georgia, the nature of race and ethnic relations in the metropolis, one historically dominated by a black-white dichotomy, is changing. In the 2000 census nearly 40% of the Atlanta metropolitan area's working-age population was an immigrant, a return migrant, or a northern-born migrant. We use the 5% Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) from the 2000 census to examine over- and under-occupational representation in the metropolitan area among migrant and nonmigrant groups. The results indicate that there remains a racial and ethnic hierarchy that is related to occupational queues and segmented labor markets. By comparing different types of migrant groups, and by taking into account race, ethnicity, and nativity, we more clearly delineate economic stratification in the metropolitan region.