the Asian immigrant workers are most likely to work in high-skill jobs % of employed foreign- born workers, by importance ofa skill, 2018 Hispanic 11 16 17
In 2018, Asian and white immigrants were much more likely than Hispanic and black immigrants to work in nonmechanical, high-skill occupations. For example, 42% of Asian immigrants and 36% of white immigrants worked in jobs where analytical skills are most important, such as chemical engineers and computer programmers, compared with 23% of black immigrants and just 11% of Hispanic immigrants. There were similar differences in jobs in which fundamental and managerial skills are most important. White immigrants were more likely than those in other groups to work in jobs prioritizing social skills.
Hispanic immigrants are most likely to be employed in lower-skill nonmechanical occupations. In 2018, the majority of Hispanic immigrants worked in occupations where analytical (57%) and fundamental (51%) skills are least important, and four-in-ten or more worked in occupations in which social or managerial skills are least important. These shares were significantly higher than those among other immigrant groups. For example, about one-in-five or fewer black, white and Asian immigrants were employed in occupations where social skills were least important.
the Asian immigrant workers are  | most likely to work in high-skill jobs  | % of employed foreign- born workers, by importance ofa  | skill, 2018  | Most important  | More important  | Less important  | Least important  | Social skills  | White  | 23  | 45  | 18  | 14  | Asian  | 36  | 32  | 20 12  | Black  | 34  | 25  | 22  | 19  | Hispanic  | 21  | 12  | 26  | 40  | Fundamental skills  | White  | 39  | 26  | 17  | 18  | Asian  | 37  | 27  | 15  | 20  | Black  | 28  | 17  | 28  | 27  | Hispanic  | 12  | 15  | 22  | 51  | Analytical skills  | White  | 36  | 24  | 15  | 25  | Asian  | 42  | 19  | 12 27  | Black  | 23  | 18 14  | 45  | Hispanic 11 16 17  | 57  | Managerial skills  | White  | 39  | 25  | 17  | 19  | Asian  | 34  | 30  | 14 22  | Black  | 27  | 19  | 24  | 30  | Hispanic  | 17  | 15  | 23  | 45  | Mechanical skills  | White 8  | 21  | 37  | 33  | Asian 21  | 41  | 32  | Black 9 20  | 47  | 24  | Hispanic 12  | 42  | 27  | 19  | Note: Figures may not add to 100% due to rounding. Full- and part-  | time workers ages 16 and older. White black and Asian adults  | include those who report being only one race and are non-Hispanic.  | Hispanics are of any race Asians include Pacific slanders.  | Occupations are ranked by the ratings for skill, and those in the  | highest quartile of a skill are ones in which that skill is most  | important. A skill is more important" in occupations in the second  | highest quartile "less important" in occupations in the third highest  | quartile and "least important" in occupations in the lowest quartile.  | An occupation may rank at the top or the bottom with respect to  | more than one skill  | Source: Pew Research Center analysis of 0*NET (Version 23) and  | 2018 Current Population Survey (IPUMS). 0*NET  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 